Acceptability of Sexting in Same-Sex Relationships

For individuals who identify as part of the LGB community, the Internet can be seen as a tool to take control of their lives, may promote self-esteem, and foster a sense of belonging. The purpose of the study was to learn about sexting practices on college campuses. It builds on the existing body of knowledge by attending specifically to sexting rather than the previous literature about engagement in sexual behavior online (see, for example, Daneback, Cooper, & Månsson, 2005). Findings indicated that sexting is viewed as more acceptable in same sex relationships as compared to heterosexual relationships

Using Self-Disclosure to Manage Student Misconceptions in a Human Sexuality Classroom

This paper explores how three Human Development graduate student instructors of human sexuality have utilized student perception and instructor disclosure to challenge assumptions and misconceptions about sexuality. Three modes of pedagogy, culturally responsive pedagogy, experiential learning theory, and queer pedagogy, are discussed in order to illustrate the interplay of perception and disclosure when teaching. The authors provide a list of questions for instructors to be reflective as well as strategies to respond to student misconceptions about sexuality topics in the classroom.Keywords: culturally responsive pedagogy, disclosure, experiential learning theory, queer pedagogy, sexualit

Genomic epidemiology of the Escherichia coli O104:H4 outbreaks in Europe, 2011

The degree to which molecular epidemiology reveals information about the sources and transmission patterns of an outbreak depends on the resolution of the technology used and the samples studied. Isolates of Escherichia coli O104:H4 from the outbreak centered in Germany in May–July 2011, and the much smaller outbreak in southwest France in June 2011, were indistinguishable by standard tests. We report a molecular epidemiological analysis using multiplatform whole-genome sequencing and analysis of multiple isolates from the German and French outbreaks. Isolates from the German outbreak showed remarkably little diversity, with only two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) found in isolates from four individuals. Surprisingly, we found much greater diversity (19 SNPs) in isolates from seven individuals infected in the French outbreak. The German isolates form a clade within the more diverse French outbreak strains. Moreover, five isolates derived from a single infected individual from the French outbreak had extremely limited diversity. The striking difference in diversity between the German and French outbreak samples is consistent with several hypotheses, including a bottleneck that purged diversity in the German isolates, variation in mutation rates in the two E. coli outbreak populations, or uneven distribution of diversity in the seed populations that led to each outbreak

“I’m not sure I trust the system yet”: Lesbian Service Member Experiences with Mental Health Care.

The purpose of this research was to understand lesbian service member experiences with mental health care. Individual and organizational factors were explored, including the influence of military policy (e.g., “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”) on service member utilization of mental health services. Thirty-seven participants responded to a survey containing 16 open-ended items regarding the impact of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” on one’s professional life, relational life, identity, and willingness to access mental health services. Data were analyzed through an open- and axial-coding and constant comparative method. The findings indicated a lesbian service woman’s likelihood of accessing mental health services was impacted by confidentiality concerns, fear of repercussions, and a sense that military culture lags behind policy changes. Recommendations for therapists included renewed focus on safety through affirmative practices, need for competency in military and lesbian/gay culture, and sensitivity to the effects of systemic oppression on self-esteem. Implications and future research are discussed

Exploring Perceptions of Acceptability of Sexting in Same-Sex, Bisexual, Heterosexual Relationships and Communities

Communication over the Internet is helpful for marginalized individuals in their efforts to feel a part of the collective whole and gain personal empowerment. For individuals who identify as part of the LGB community, the Internet can be seen as a tool to take control of their lives, may promote self-esteem, and foster a sense of belongingness. The purpose of the study was about sexting practices on college campuses in general. It builds on the existing body of knowledge by attending specifically to sexting rather than the previous literature about engagement in sexual behavior online. Participants responded to a survey on sexting and technology use as well as questions from the Sociosexual Orientation Inventory–Revised (SOI-R) and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Identity Scale (LGBIS). Findings indicated that sexting is viewed as more acceptable in same-sex relationships compared with heterosexual relationships. Implications for future research include exploring how greater degrees of perceived acceptability manifests in both problematic and advantageous ways in relationships. Implications for practice include being able to identify how same sex couples reporting higher degrees of acceptability with sexting in their relationship can translate to heterosexual relationships