Norms regulating access to sexuality remain deeply gendered. Men tend to be encouraged to accumulate sexual conquests and are required to obtain their partners' consent (Kimmel, 2008). Women, on the other hand, must ensure that their sexuality is embedded in a romantic or marital relationship and that their desires are respected (Hamilton & Armstrong, 2009). In this context, women and men experience the period leading up to sex differently. What emotions do they feel before engaging in a sexual intercourse? What forms of emotional labor do they deploy (Hochschild, 1983)? And what inequalities arise as a result?
The results outlined in this paper are based on the analysis of 130 biographical interviews conducted with women and men between the ages of 18 and 65 from different social backgrounds. In these interviews, respondents were asked to recount some of their sexual experiences and to describe their emotions before, during and after sex.
First, we show that women and men do not have the same mental life before sexuality. Women analyze, sort and transform their emotions which are multiple and contradictory; whereas men often focus on their feelings of sexual desire and let themselves be guided by them. In a second time, we show that these differences of relation to the emotions produce two types of inequalities. On the one hand, women have less leeway to act than men. On the other hand, the sense of self-agency they experience is more precarious.
Hamilton L., Armstrong E.A., 2009, « Gendered Sexuality in Young Adulthood: Double Binds and Flawed Options », Gender & Society, 23, 5, p. 589‑616.
Hochschild A.R., 1983, The Managed Heart: Commercialization of Human Feeling, Berkeley, University of California.
Kimmel M., 2008, Guyland: The Perilous World Where Boys Become Men, New York, HarperCollins.
Norms regulating access to sexuality remain deeply gendered. Men tend to be encouraged to accumulate sexual conquests and are required to obtain their partners' consent (Kimmel, 2008). Women, on the other hand, must ensure that their sexuality is embedded in a romantic or marital relationship and that their desires are respected (Hamilton & Armstrong, 2009). In this context, women and men experience the period leading up to sex differently. What emotions do they feel before engaging in a sexual intercourse? What forms of emotional labor do they deploy (Hochschild, 1983)? And what inequalities arise as a result?
The results outlined in this paper are based on the analysis of 130 biographical interviews conducted with women and men between the ages of 18 and 65 from different social backgrounds. In these interviews, respondents were asked to recount some of their sexual experiences and to describe their emotions before, during and after sex.
First, we show that women and men do not have the same mental life before sexuality. Women analyze, sort and transform their emotions which are multiple and contradictory; whereas men often focus on their feelings of sexual desire and let themselves be guided by them. In a second time, we show that these differences of relation to the emotions produce two types of inequalities. On the one hand, women have less leeway to act than men. On the other hand, the sense of self-agency they experience is more precarious.
Hamilton L., Armstrong E.A., 2009, « Gendered Sexuality in Young Adulthood: Double Binds and Flawed Options », Gender & Society, 23, 5, p. 589‑616.
Hochschild A.R., 1983, The Managed Heart: Commercialization of Human Feeling, Berkeley, University of California.
Kimmel M., 2008, Guyland: The Perilous World Where Boys Become Men, New York, HarperCollins.
Norms regulating access to sexuality remain deeply gendered. Men tend to be encouraged to accumulate sexual conquests and are required to obtain their partners' consent (Kimmel, 2008). Women, on the other hand, must ensure that their sexuality is embedded in a romantic or marital relationship and that their desires are respected (Hamilton & Armstrong, 2009). In this context, women and men experience the period leading up to sex differently. What emotions do they feel before engaging in a sexual intercourse? What forms of emotional labor do they deploy (Hochschild, 1983)? And what inequalities arise as a result?
The results outlined in this paper are based on the analysis of 130 biographical interviews conducted with women and men between the ages of 18 and 65 from different social backgrounds. In these interviews, respondents were asked to recount some of their sexual experiences and to describe their emotions before, during and after sex.
First, we show that women and men do not have the same mental life before sexuality. Women analyze, sort and transform their emotions which are multiple and contradictory; whereas men often focus on their feelings of sexual desire and let themselves be guided by them. In a second time, we show that these differences of relation to the emotions produce two types of inequalities. On the one hand, women have less leeway to act than men. On the other hand, the sense of self-agency they experience is more precarious.
Hamilton L., Armstrong E.A., 2009, « Gendered Sexuality in Young Adulthood: Double Binds and Flawed Options », Gender & Society, 23, 5, p. 589‑616.
Hochschild A.R., 1983, The Managed Heart: Commercialization of Human Feeling, Berkeley, University of California.
Kimmel M., 2008, Guyland: The Perilous World Where Boys Become Men, New York, HarperCollins.
Keywords
Desire
Emotions
Gender inequalities
Sexuality
Norms regulating access to sexuality remain deeply gendered. Men tend to be encouraged to accumulate sexual conquests and are required to obtain their partners' consent (Kimmel, 2008). Women, on the other hand, must ensure that their sexuality is embedded in a romantic or marital relationship and that their desires are respected (Hamilton & Armstrong, 2009). In this context, women and men experience the period leading up to sex differently. What emotions do they feel before engaging in a sexual intercourse? What forms of emotional labor do they deploy (Hochschild, 1983)? And what inequalities arise as a result?
The results outlined in this paper are based on the analysis of 130 biographical interviews conducted with women and men between the ages of 18 and 65 from different social backgrounds. In these interviews, respondents were asked to recount some of their sexual experiences and to describe their emotions before, during and after sex.
First, we show that women and men do not have the same mental life before sexuality. Women analyze, sort and transform their emotions which are multiple and contradictory; whereas men often focus on their feelings of sexual desire and let themselves be guided by them. In a second time, we show that these differences of relation to the emotions produce two types of inequalities. On the one hand, women have less leeway to act than men. On the other hand, the sense of self-agency they experience is more precarious.
Hamilton L., Armstrong E.A., 2009, « Gendered Sexuality in Young Adulthood: Double Binds and Flawed Options », Gender & Society, 23, 5, p. 589‑616.
Hochschild A.R., 1983, The Managed Heart: Commercialization of Human Feeling, Berkeley, University of California.
Kimmel M., 2008, Guyland: The Perilous World Where Boys Become Men, New York, HarperCollins.
Norms regulating access to sexuality remain deeply gendered. Men tend to be encouraged to accumulate sexual conquests and are required to obtain their partners' consent (Kimmel, 2008). Women, on the other hand, must ensure that their sexuality is embedded in a romantic or marital relationship and that their desires are respected (Hamilton & Armstrong, 2009). In this context, women and men experience the period leading up to sex differently. What emotions do they feel before engaging in a sexual intercourse? What forms of emotional labor do they deploy (Hochschild, 1983)? And what inequalities arise as a result?
The results outlined in this paper are based on the analysis of 130 biographical interviews conducted with women and men between the ages of 18 and 65 from different social backgrounds. In these interviews, respondents were asked to recount some of their sexual experiences and to describe their emotions before, during and after sex.
First, we show that women and men do not have the same mental life before sexuality. Women analyze, sort and transform their emotions which are multiple and contradictory; whereas men often focus on their feelings of sexual desire and let themselves be guided by them. In a second time, we show that these differences of relation to the emotions produce two types of inequalities. On the one hand, women have less leeway to act than men. On the other hand, the sense of self-agency they experience is more precarious.
Hamilton L., Armstrong E.A., 2009, « Gendered Sexuality in Young Adulthood: Double Binds and Flawed Options », Gender & Society, 23, 5, p. 589‑616.
Hochschild A.R., 1983, The Managed Heart: Commercialization of Human Feeling, Berkeley, University of California.
Kimmel M., 2008, Guyland: The Perilous World Where Boys Become Men, New York, HarperCollins.
Norms regulating access to sexuality remain deeply gendered. Men tend to be encouraged to accumulate sexual conquests and are required to obtain their partners' consent (Kimmel, 2008). Women, on the other hand, must ensure that their sexuality is embedded in a romantic or marital relationship and that their desires are respected (Hamilton & Armstrong, 2009). In this context, women and men experience the period leading up to sex differently. What emotions do they feel before engaging in a sexual intercourse? What forms of emotional labor do they deploy (Hochschild, 1983)? And what inequalities arise as a result?
The results outlined in this paper are based on the analysis of 130 biographical interviews conducted with women and men between the ages of 18 and 65 from different social backgrounds. In these interviews, respondents were asked to recount some of their sexual experiences and to describe their emotions before, during and after sex.
First, we show that women and men do not have the same mental life before sexuality. Women analyze, sort and transform their emotions which are multiple and contradictory; whereas men often focus on their feelings of sexual desire and let themselves be guided by them. In a second time, we show that these differences of relation to the emotions produce two types of inequalities. On the one hand, women have less leeway to act than men. On the other hand, the sense of self-agency they experience is more precarious.
Hamilton L., Armstrong E.A., 2009, « Gendered Sexuality in Young Adulthood: Double Binds and Flawed Options », Gender & Society, 23, 5, p. 589‑616.
Hochschild A.R., 1983, The Managed Heart: Commercialization of Human Feeling, Berkeley, University of California.
Kimmel M., 2008, Guyland: The Perilous World Where Boys Become Men, New York, HarperCollins.
Keywords
Desire
Emotions
Gender inequalities
Sexuality
