Black people’s constructions of good sex: Describing good sex from the margins

• Published in: Sexualities Vol. 27; no. 3; pp. 457 - 474
• Main Authors: Hargons, Candice N, Thorpe, Shemeka, Malone, Natalie, Wright, Courtney J, Dogan, Jardin N, Mizelle, Destin L, Stuck, Jennifer L, Sullivan, Queen-Ayanna, Sanchez, Anyoliny, Bohmer, Carrie, Stage, Michelle, Bruther, Kearstin, Vigil, Kasey, Cineas, Marla R, Gilbert, Tracie Q
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.03.2024; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Black people; Definitions; Gender; Marginality; Medical personnel; Sexual behavior; Sexual health; Teachers; Therapists; participatory action research; Black/African American; good sex; sex-positive
• ISSN: 1363-4607; 1461-7382
• DOI: 10.1177/13634607221101854

Existing conceptualizations and measures of good sex are varied and inconclusive. Additionally, few studies have defined good sex from the margins, thus definitions are primarily informed from privileged perspectives. People with marginalized racial, gender, and sexual identities can offer culturally informed definitions of good sex that may expand current definitions. This study fills that gap by identifying factors that constitute good sex among Black people with diverse sexual and gender identities. Data were collected from 448 Black individuals who participated in an online Qualtrics survey with demographic, open-ended, and scaled questions. Results indicate a range of descriptors that align with existing sexual wellness literature and include the top 20 words to describe good sex as well as the top 10 words for demographics of interest. Differences in most frequent descriptors based on gender and sexual identities are reported. These results provide a foundation for sexual health practitioners, educators, and therapists to improve societal knowledge about what constitutes good sex among Black people.