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Internet Sexuality: Sexual behavior and sexual
identity in cyberspace
Pamela Valera
College of Social Work
University of South Carolina
Early research on men who
have sex with men (MSM) suggests that the social environment is an
important determinant for understanding the human interactions of men who
have sex with men (MSM) (Tikkanen & Ross, 2003; Humpreys, 1970). Laud
Humphrey’s sociological investigations of sexual contacts of men suggest
that “sex first” is
viewed as a form of courtship. As such, the phenomenon “tearoom trade”
refers to public environments such as public restrooms known to
accommodate anonymous sexual encounters between men. Humpreys (1970) also
found that many of the men who visited tearooms were in fact married and
in committed heterosexual relationships.
Gay liberation and early
research on MSM focused on “cruising” areas such as gay bars,
bathhouses, and public restrooms, to name a few to better understand the
courtship of MSM (Tikkanen & Ross, 2003). With the emergence of an
information society, and the recent developments in computer-mediated
environments, tearoom in public settings has reconfigured in the privacy
of the Internet. The author will discuss the manifestation of tearoom
trades from public settings to computer-mediated environments.
Computer-mediated environments may serve men who do not identify as gay or
homosexual and provide them an alternate environment to explore sexual
contacts and sexuality (Tikkanen & Ross, 2003).
Computer-mediated
environments may serve as a safe environment where people can be their
“true selves” without fear of retaliation and omission from society.
The challenge is to further expand our knowledge of sexuality and to use
the medium to foster awareness, knowledge and sexual safety. This paper
will add to our understanding of sexuality and the Internet. The
information distributed will be a first step in understanding how this
medium is affecting interpersonal relationships.
References
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