"No fats, femmes, or blacks:" The role of body types, gender roles and race in condom usage online

Abstract

Condom use and negotiation is a topic that is less documented within the spectrum of online dating. There are many different variables which factor into how a sexual relationship between two people unfolds, distinctly, the variables that contribute to condom negotiation can be seen within one’s race, gender, and sexuality. These different variables have been found to have an impact on condom use due to variations in people’s experiences with racism, body types, and sexual positioning during intercourse. Because condom use is an issue that leads to larger discussions of HIV and AIDS and stigma, we test whether these variables might impact one’s choice to use a condom or not. More specifically, we test whether race, sexual positioning and body type have a relationship with condom use for men who have sex with men online. For our methods we collected data from Adam4Adam.com, an online dating website for gay men. We ran a logistical regression analysis using the three variables against their preference for condom use. The results found a relationship between race and condom use and sexual positioning and condom use, while being insignificant for body type. In particular, the relationship between race and condom use presented a Black Male Condom Use Paradox. The implications are further discussed.