‘It was an Incredible Thrill’: The Social Meanings and Dynamics of Younger Gay Men’s Experiences of Barebacking in Melbourne

Abstract

This study used a qualitative research design to examine the meanings and circumstances underpinning practices of ‘barebacking’ - unprotected anal intercourse in episodic sexual encounters among younger (mainly in their 20s) same-sex attracted men - in Melbourne, Australia. Using a modified grounded theory approach, a series of in-depth interviews with 24 men were conducted. The results reveal that understanding practices of barebacking requires an appreciation of how sex takes on multiple meanings in practice. Meanings in sex for the men in this study tend to be organized around masculinity. In sexual negotiations, meanings, initiation, emotions, dynamics (e.g. ‘shared’ communication, ‘directing’) and wider contextual influences (e.g. public health discourses) all play a role in sexual choreography and risk taking. Implications for health promotion and policy are discussed.