3. Sexual Attitudes and Expectations
• Family honor= Sexuality is a private matter
and an inappropriate topic of conversation
• Acceptable within marriage
• Stimga of sexuality leads to avoidance of the topic
(which can cause uncomfortable feelings and
embarrassment)
– Lack of discussion among families
(Okazaki, 2002; Zhang, Li, Li, & Beck, 1999)
(Kim, 2009)
4. Sexual Attitudes and Expectations:
(Kim, Li, & Ng, 2005; Okazaki, 2002)
– Patriarchal values (Ho, 1990; Kim & Ward, 2007; Mills & Granoff, 1992)
– Traditional sex roles
– Misogyny = a general hostility, mistrust, and devaluing
of women.
(Koo, Stephens, Lindgren,George; 2012; Okazaki,
2002)
5. Asian American Adolescent
Sexual Behaviors
National Health & Social Life Survey
High School in Los Angeles in 1992
Asian American Students (n=186) compared to Other Cultures (n= 2,026 students)
• More likely to be virgins (75%)
• Age began to understand what sexual intercourse was (
m=14.1)
• Less likely to initiate heterosexual intercourse at an early
age
• Lower number of lifetime partners
• Frequency of sexual activity the same for Asian & Non-
Asians
• Primary language English= More likely to be sexually active
6. Views of Sexuality
Level of acculturation may indicate
if the Asian-American individual identifies more with
Sexual attitudes, Norms, and Behaviors
of their
Asian or American
identity
7. Consequences of Avoiding
Discussions on Sexuality
• Research indicates that:
– Asian American youth
• Know less about birth control and HIV transmission than Black or White youth
(DiClemente, Zorn, & Temoshok, 1987; Strunin, 1991)
• Not more likely to use condoms or avoid substance use during sexual
encounters once they become sexually active (Grunbaum, Lowry, Kann, &
Pateman, 2000; Hou & Basen-Engquist, 1997).
– Asian American women
• Less likely than any other ethnic or gender subgroup to be tested for HIV/AIDS
(Darbes et al., 2002)
• Heterosexual contact is the dominant source of HIV transmission
• Filipina Americans: earlier age of sexual onset and higher proportions of
unintended pregnancies and HIV/AIDS than women in East Asian ethnic groups
(Darbes et al., 2002; Horan & DiClemente, 1993),
• A quarter of Asian American women( between 18- 35 years) never seek care
from reproductive and sexual health providers (National Asian Women’s
Health Organization, 1997)
(Kim, 2009)
8. Asian-American Sexuality
• Sexuality is overlooked
– Seen as “low risk” for STD’s
• Model minority perspective
(good grades, submissive)
• Less sexual experience
• More conservative sexual
attitudes
• Lower rates of unintended
pregnancies than Black, White
or Latino youth
(Kim, 2009)
9. Asian Sexuality
• China Doll" and "Geisha" reinforce stereotypes of Asians as passive, weak or as
sex objects
– Typically portrayed in mainstream media
– Full Metal Jacket Movie clip coins the phrase
“Me so horney”
(See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsIuWn1xoYI)
10. Commercial Sex Work
• More typical for women to be in the industry
– Sexual behavior perceived as a consequence of weak economy and poverty of the country
– Typically between the ages of 12-16
• Call boys: male sex workers that engage in sex with both men and
women
Prevalence Of Sex Industry
Southeast Asian countries (Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the
Philippines):
Estimated to account for between 2% -14% of Gross Domestic Product
Japan:
Annual earnings estimate of between 4-10 trillion yen
Estimated to account for 1% - 3% of Gross National Product.
(WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION Regional Office for the Western Pacific )
12. Descriptive LGB
Identification Terms
Country Terms used
China Tongzi, Lala
Japan Doseiasha
Phillipines Bakla, Tomboy, Bayot
13. Homesexuality & Law
Country Law Says:
Singapore Homosexual acts are 'unlawful'
China Legal position unclear, but not technically illegal
Thailand Not mentioned in law
Vietnam Not technically illegal
Laos Legal position unclear
(Source: Utopia-Asia as cited in
Philippines Not mentioned in law
www.bbc.co.uk, 2000)
Cambodia Not illegal
Japan Not illegal
14. Homsexuality & Law
Country Law Says:
Burma Has a sodomy law
Malaysia Not illegal except if you're Muslim (though police harrasment occurs)
North Korea Not mentioned in law
South Korea No overtly discriminatory laws
Indonesia Not mentioned in law
Brunei Illegal
Taiwan Overt lewdness in public places can be used to harrass
(Utopia-Asia as cited in BBC.co.uk)
16. LGBT Asian History
• Homosexual behaviors documented in
– Historical Accounts, Literature, and Art (Leupp,1995; Pope& Chung,
1999)
– Royalty: Homosexual behaviors and Bisexual behaviors confined to
royal palaces (Ruan, 1991)
• Emperors, Concubines, and Servants
– Miltary: Warriors with their young apprentices
– Japanese Kabuki: all-male or all-female live theater casts
(Robertson, 1998)
• Same-sex love in performances
-Cultural: Affection is acceptable ( Chung & Katayama, 1998)
• E.g., Hold hands, sleep in same bed
(Matteson, 1997; Tewari, Alvin N. Alvarez, 2009)
17. LGBT
Recent History
• Conseqeuences for LGB demographic
Communist countries
– Public humiliation
– Physical assault
– Imprisonment
– Execution
(Tewari, Alvin N. Alvarez, 2009)
18. LGBT
Sexual Attraction
• Asians (typically males) seen as asexual or
not as attractive
– Being with another Asian men or Asian
women in a relationships joked to be
“incest”
• “Rice Queen”- white males attracted to
primarily Asian men (Chung & Szymanki, 2006)
– Research suggests that Asian Americans are
attracted to White Americans
• Possibly influenced by internalized racial
oppression
• Western standard of what is attractive
• May see White Americans as powerful
or more desirable
• See other gay Asian Men as competition
for white mates
(Tewari, Alvin N. Alvarez,2009) (Photo:
http://www.adweek.com/files/adfreak/AdFreak%2
0new/J-Crew-gay-couple-2.jpg)
19. Religions & Sexuality
Religion Views
Islam Homosexuality
-Illegal
Hinduism General
-Women dishonor families by engaging pre-marital
sex
-Discussions about sex acceptable within a marriage
-Kama Sutra
“Kama”=sensual or sexual pleasure. “Sutra”=a
formula
Not a sex manual= guide for virts life of love,
family , and pleasures of life
Confucianism General
“Virtuous woman would never have two
husbands.”
-Among Japanese women before the
20th century, remarriage was common,
and premarital sex was usual
20. Religion & Sexuality
Religion View
Catholic General
-Premarital sex unacceptable
-Use of contraceptives unacceptable
-Abortion unacceptable
Homosexuality
-Natural law debate
-No common opposition until 12th century
(Collapse of Roman Empire where
homosexuality has been prevalent)
-Requires homosexuals abstain from sex
-To Live in Chris (1976) book teaches
understanding and compassion
-Leviticus 18:22: “abomination”
-Romans 1:27 : “dishonorable”
-Paul 1:24: Impurity
01 Corinthians 6:9-10 & 1 Timothy 1:8-10”:
Excluded from reign of God
(Dignityusa.org)
21. Heterosexual
Asian-American Attitudes
towards
Homosexuality
• Males were more negative than females in their
attitudes toward homosexuality
• Asian-American students scored significantly
higher on the homophobia measures than
Caucasian students.
(Span & Vidal, 2003)
22. Clinical Classification of LGBT Populations
Chinese Classification and Diagnostic Criteria of
Mental Disorders
Homosexuality excluded as mental illness in 2001
(Tewari, Alvin N. Alvarez,2009)
24. Transgender Identification Terms
Country Terms used
India Hijras (“Third sex”)
South India Jôgappa
Southern Iraq Mustergil
Burma Acault
Oman Xanîth
Thailand Kathoey (“lady boy”)
Phillipines Bayot
Malaysia Mak-nyahs
Samoa Fa’afafine
25. Transgender Identification Terms
Country Terms Used
China Bianxing (“one who changes sex”)
Katoey (also used in Thailand, offensive in
China. Translates to “human monster”)
(Tewari, Alvin N. Alvarez,2009)
26. Transgenderism
in
Art & Media
http://dragqueens-oftheworld.com
27. Entertainment & Media
• Drag Queens
– Thailand: major entertainment industry
– China: considered extremely offensive
– Phillipines:
• Parloristas: individuals who take on traditional female roles
– Example: working as a hair stylist in a beauty salon, dressing up as a
drag queen, or serving as domestic help).
– Seen as effeminate, flamboyant individuals who are often subjected to
jokes and dehumanizing portrayals in the media.
– America:
• Asian-American men have advantage to impersonate females due to
shorter height, limited facial and body hair, and bone structure
• Stereotype: effeminate and submissive
– Sexually and otherwise
(Tewari, Alvin N. Alvarez,2009)
28. Transgenderism
Video: American Beauties
“American Beauties is an award-winning documentary on
Asian transgender immigrants. We enter the secretive, often
misunderstood world of immigrant male to female
transgenders. In a series of illuminating interviews, Amanda,
Imani, Kimberly and Kosal give revealing insights on the issues
closest to their hearts: discrimination, prostitution, and sex
reassignment surgery as well as their former lives, and their
dreams for the future.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scAN9yMOMYI
29. Reassignment Surgery
Thailand: One of the most thriving industries in world
China: Due to increase in population, starting to provide
info to demographic for sex reassignment surgery,
hormone therapy, and other daily living issues
(Tewari, Alvin N. Alvarez,2009)
30. Clinical Implications & Challenges
• STI’s- shame in family finding out
• Identity Development
• Socialization
• Behaviors
• Sexual Health
• Sexual Violence
• Lack of knowledge on topic (Okazaki, 2002)
– Most studies look at sexual attitudes not sexual identity
development (Chng & Geliga-Vargas, 2000; Cochran, Mays, & Leung, 1991; Huang
& Uba, 1992; Meston, Trapnell & Gorzalka, 1996)
(Tewari, Alvin N. Alvarez,2009)
31. Impact of Sexual Attitudes on
Physical Health
• Asian Pacific Islander Men
• Asian American Women
– Not seeking sexual and reproductive care leads to:
• Greater risk for delay of treatment in breast, cervical cancer, and other gyneolocial problems
– Recent CDC data indicates:
• Annual HIV/AIDS diagnosis rates are increasing faster among Asian Pacific Islanders than any other
racial group
• Islanders are the only racial group with a statistically significant percentage increase in annual
HIV/AIDS diagnosis rates
• Low self esteem, social isolation, Marginalization from heterosexual and homosexual communities
• Protective Factors: Family
– Living with one’s parents
– Asian family values=
» practice safe sex to live and support family
» overt urging by family members to engage in safer sex
(Chin et al. 2007; Han,Operario,& Choi, 2011)
32. Expression of Sexual Identity
• Sexual identity changes according to context (Tewari, Alvin N. Alvarez, 2009)
– Out to friends, close siblings
– Secret to heterosexual peers, family and coworkers
– May prefer to celebrate pride in smaller gatherings at friend’s homes than in
large pride festival
– Closeted to their parents (Tan, 2011)
• Either refuse to or claim they do not feel obliged to
• Introduce partners to parents as “friends”
– Consequences influences LGBT individuals to question:
“Is coming out even necessary?”
• Phillipines
– Machismo and the down low:- Similar to Spanish culture
• With masculine-like behavior and physical appearance, gay men reject a
homosexual identity despite sexual activities with other men
(Nadal, 2010; Nadal & Corpus 2012)
• Sensitivity to cultural factor
– Should not assume these behaviors are immature or unhealthy
– Avoidance and denial is as typical coping strategy (Cass, 1979)
33. Resources Available
• China
– Increasing transgendered population encourages the need for more
information
• Academia, Conferences
• Internet support groups, Websites
• Phillipines
– Most studies on experiences of LGBT Filipinos tend to focus primarily
on gay men, some who may not even identify as gay (Tan, 995).
(Tewari, Alvin N. Alvarez,2009)
34. QUESTION
How might you apply information regarding
Asian American sexuality into your work with
Asian American LGBTQ clients?
35. References
Chae, D. H., & Ayala, G. (2010). Sexual orientation and sexual behavior among Latino and Asian Americans: Implications for unfair treatment and psychological distress. Journal Of Sex
Research, 47(5), 451-459. doi:10.1080/00224490903100579
Han, C., Operario, D., & Choi, K. (2011). If I was infected with HIV, I would be letting my family down: Family influences on risk and protective factors for unsafe sex among gay Asian Pacific
Islander men. Health, Risk & Society, 13(4), 373-388. doi:10.1080/13698575.2011.575932
Han, C. (2006). Geisha of a different kind: Gay asian men and the gendering of sexual identity. Sexuality & Culture: An Interdisciplinary Quarterly, 10(3), 3-28. doi:10.1007/s12119-006-1018-0
Kelly H. Koo Kari A. Stephens Kristen P. Lindgren William H. George Arch (2012). Misogyny, Acculturation, and Ethnic Identity: Relationto Rape-Supportive Attitudes in Asian American College
• • •
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Kim, J.L (2009). ASIAN AMERICAN WOMEN’S RETROSPECTIVE REPORTS OF THEIR SEXUAL SOCIALIZATION. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 33 (2009), 334–350
Matteson, D. R. (1997). Bisexual and homosexual behavior and HIV risk among Chinese-, Filipino- and Korean-American men. Journal Of Sex Research, 34(1), 93-104.
doi:10.1080/00224499709551870
Nadal, K. L., & Corpus, M. J. H. (2012, October 1). “Tomboys” and “Baklas”: Experiences of Lesbian and Gay Filipino Americans. Asian American Journal of Psychology. Advance online publication.
doi: 10.1037/a0030168
Ochiai, E. (2011). Love and life in Southwestern Japan: The story of a one-hundred-year-old lady. Journal Of Comparative Family Studies, 42(3), 399-410.
Okazaki, S. (2002). Influences of culture on Asian Americans' sexuality. Journal Of Sex Research, 39(1), 34-41. doi:10.1080/00224490209552117
Span, S. A., & Vidal, L. A. (2003). Cross-cultural differences in female university students' attitudes toward homosexuals: A preliminary study. Psychological Reports, 92(2), 565-572.
doi:10.2466/PR0.92.2.565-572
Tan, (2011). Go Home, Gay Boy! Or, Why Do Singaporean Gay Men Prefer to “Go Home” and Not “Come Out”? Journal of Homosexuality. Doi 10.1080/00918369.2011.581930
Tewari, Alvin N. Alvarez ((2009) Asian American Psychology: Current Perspectives. Psychology Press.
Yap, J. G. (1986). Philippine ethnoculture and human sexuality. Journal Of Social Work & Human Sexuality, 4(3), 121-134.
Zucker, K. J., Blanchard, R., Kim, T., Pae, C., & Lee, C. (2007). Birth order and sibling sex ratio in homosexual transsexual South Korean men: Effects of the male-preference stopping rule. Psychiatry
And Clinical Neurosciences, 61(5), 529-533. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1819.2007.01703.x
http://www.dignityusa.org/faq.html. Catholicism and Homosexuality
http://dragqueens-oftheworld.com 2012 Drag Queen Lychee Minnelli – A Man In A Dress
World History of Male Love, "Homosexual Traditions", Chinese Tradition of Male Love, 2000 http://www.gay-art-history.org/gay-history/gay-customs/china-gay-cut-sleeve/china-homosexual-
bitten-peach.html
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION Regional Office for the Western Pacific . Sex Work in Asia (2001) http://www.wpro.who.int/hiv/documents/docs/Sex_Work_in_Asia_July2001.pdf
Coming Out: Gay and lesbian Life in East Asia (2000) http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/people/highlights/001122_out.shtml)
