Indian-American Sexual Practices Studied By Francis C. Assisi

Email this page Print this page

“Using cognitive analysis, we documented distinct patterns of safe sex behavior and specific reasoning strategies associated with these patterns” reports Joshi and her colleagues Nicole Yoskowitz and Kelley Urry. They also state: “We have identified a pattern of low sexual activity in a sample of first- and second-generation young-adult immigrant Indians, with significantly less sexual activity in the first generation”

Joshi’s objective has been to understand the influences on individual decision-making regarding the sexual activity of South Asians - mostly 18-24 year old Indian-Americans in New York City. Admittedly, one of the reasons for the study is the concern about the high degree of stigma associated with sexuality in South Asian culture and the consequent lack of awareness of the risks of sexual behavior.

Their results reveal low levels of sexual activity in the immigrant population and even lower in the first as compared to the second generation: 55% of participants engaged in sexual activity, of which 22% were first-generation and 82% were second-generation participants. It appears that the young immigrants eventually adopt the sexual practices of the new culture, after an intermediate period of uncertainty in which they have not abandoned the prior belief and have not accepted the new one completely. This pattern suggests a trend in sexual behavior that follows a well-known “U-shaped” curve with the transition period being represented at the bottom of the curve.

Throughout the study, Joshi explores the decision-making processes, attitudes, and belief systems of young Desis with respect to their sexual behavior, and, in the process, identifies the socio-cognitive factors that push young immigrant adults to move towards risky sexual behavior in the American environment.

The beliefs and attitudes surveyed included: information related to condom use beliefs, family expectations related to marriage, participant’s preferences related to marriage and beliefs pertaining to HIV. And as for sexual behavior, each participant was categorized into one of three groups related to the level of sexual activity: (1) no sexual activity, (2) sexual activity but no intercourse, and (3) sexual intercourse according to condom use practices.

Whereas Group 1participants frequently cited family expectations (i.e. no sex before marriage) as their reason for not engaging in sexual activity, Group 2 participants cited the influence of personal values related to sexual activity when making decisions. However, Group 2 participants reasoned that they are protecting themselves from the risks involved in sexual intercourse by abstaining from this behavior. Meanwhile Group 3 participants consistently reported that a serious, long-term relationship was a “prerequisite” to engaging in sexual intercourse.

Overall, the Joshi study reveals that transmission of beliefs from first to second generation is crucial with regard to decision-making governing safe sexual behavior.

Here are some of the findings:

77.8% of first-generation South Asians reporting never engaging in any sexual activity, whereas 81.8% of second-generation South Asians reported engaging in sexual activity.

Only 11% of first-generation as compared to 45% of second-generation participants reported engaging in sexual intercourse.

The study goes on to reveal that ninety percent of participants reported the belief that open discussion of sexuality and sex before marriage in India is taboo, and that their parents maintain these cultural beliefs when in the U.S. According to the study it was this that made them sensitive to dating as well as sexuality. In addition, almost half of participants reported having “open” discussion with peers regarding sexuality and dating, with minimal differences between first- and second-generation young adults.

This is illustrated with a quote from one participant, a 2nd generation 24-year old female: “I would say that [my parents] are against it. I mean, I haven’t talked about it with them. It’s one of those taboo topics that you don’t talk about but it’s just understood what their feelings are…With my friends it’s a different story since most of them are more [sexually] experienced than me anyway.”

indiaspora@gmail.com