1. Michel Bozon Institut National d’Etudes Démographiques Paris, France
Gender, health and living conditions. A new generation of surveys on sexual behaviour
Michel Bozon
Institut National d’Etudes Démographiques
Paris, France

2. Introduction (1) Sex surveys as cultural products
Sex surveys can be analysed from a sociological perspective
A survey is a social enterprise, aiming at treating a social problem, by an alliance between groups and scientific disciplines
It is an intellectual production, aiming at defining and legitimizing a scientific object.

3. Introduction (2) Sex surveying has never become a routine issue
Historical perspective (Giami, 1991): sex surveys belong to their time and cultural context, rather than to a tradition of sex surveying.
Cross-cultural perspective (Le Gall, 2001): comparing questionnaires of the same period shows how the national constructions of sex may differ.

4. Introduction (3) Trying to be reflexive on my own work
I have organized or co-organized several sex surveys: ACSF (France, 1992), Cosecon (Chile, 1998), Gravad (Brazil, 2002), CSF (France, 2006). A new project in Mexico.
I took part in cross-cultural projects: European surveys (Hubert, Bajos, 1998), Latin American surveys.

5. The discontinuity of sex surveys (Gagnon, 1988)
Every historical period has to invent new justifications for surveying sex
There are generations of surveys, linked to the political and social issues of their time
The very definition of sexual behaviour varies from one survey to other (Giami, 1991)

6. : Kinsey, the pioneer?
The myth of the lonely scientist fighting his time and society’s prejudices
The study of sex is part of natural science
Search for exhaustivity and description of the diversity of behaviours
Orgasm as the basic unit of sexual activity
The sexual explains the sexual
A cultural, rather than a scientific event?

7. Surveys of the 60’s and early 70’s
Schofield (1965, UK), Zetterberg (Sweden, 1967), Simon (France, 1970), Sievers (Finland, 1972).
The emergence of a contraceptive society
Increase in young people’s sexual autonomy
Diversification of sexual repertoires

8. Surveys of the 90’s
DHS surveys, WHO Hiv/Aids surveys, Hiv/Aids European surveys, United States survey, Chilean and Brazilian survey, etc.
Sexuality as a risk. Hiv/aids, teen age pregnancy.
Investigating networks of partners, risk groups and means of protection
The aim is helping people to protect themselves

9. A new generation of surveys at the turn of the century
Integrating gender, health and living conditions
Putting together the numerous components of the experience of sexuality
Sexual activity in a life course perspective
Gender relations: equality, power and domination shape the exercice of sexuality
Having control over one’s living conditions

10. Sexuality in a broad definition
Sexual violence
Sexual practices and repertoires
Non penetrative sex
Lack or irregularity of sex
Contraceptive practice
Unplanned pregnancy and abortion
Sexual dysfunction
HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infections

11. Sexuality and health, sexual health
A dialectical relation between sexuality and health ( in the WHO definition)
State of health influences sexual behaviour
Sexual activity influences health and well-being
Sexual health depends on sexual rights

12. The ACSF 1992 survey in France
An epidemiological bias (Giami, 1993)
Questions on condoms, but never on contraception
Intercourse are described from a risk perspective, which implies a selection
Interdisciplinary research team. A surprising module on sexual fantasies

13. Social and epidemiological shifts, in relation to sexuality
Public health context: Aids has turned into a chronic disease, less sensitivity about preventive issues, medicalisation of sexuality (erectile dysfunction)
Social situation: growing poverty of some groups, new family arrangements
Sexuality: an issue of political debate
A new normative regime of sexuality

14. The new CSF 2006 study in France
Life history situations: sex before forming a couple, sex after a marital disruption
Gender: imbalanced situations, conflict and sex
Non penetrative sex, lack of sex
Sexual aging
Being forced into sex
Internet and sexual activity

15. Conclusion Widening definitions of sexuality and health
Persisting gender imbalance in sexual interaction and social unequality in living conditions
A prolonged period of sexual activity, with a diversification of relational situations
A gap between social representations of sexuality and personal experiences
Surveys should be food for thought and for public debate