Resumo

CARICOTE AGREDA, Esther. Influence of gender stereotypes is sexual health during adolescence. Educere [online]. 2006, vol.10, n.34, pp.463-470. ISSN 1316-4910.

We are born male or female (sex), but we also learn how to be male or female (gender.) Gender diferences should not imply inequalities. However, one of the main focus points of this study is the need to begin taking on gender as the basis for sexual health during adolescence. The main objective is to bring up thought points for adolescents (10-19 years old) on knowledge, practices, attitudes and sexual practices related to what means being a man or a woman. The research uses the phenomenological qualitative paradigm, using the participant investigation-action method, which allowed the presentation of experience workshops in an intentional sample of seven adolescents, both sexes, from the community of “El Palito ” in Puerto Cabello, between March 2004 and July 2005. This group had the opportunity to think about their situation in a spontaneous and voluntary way to understand reality and take action. The qualitative techniques for collecting information were based on open interviews, participant observation and group discussions. The findings allow assertion that adolescents have insufficient and distorted sexual information which comes from their peers (other adolescents), but this knowledge does not translate into preventive behavior in their sexual practices due to gender stereotypes. The conclusion is that there is a belief system on gender stereotypes and sexual disinformation that is a part of socio-cultural patterns in the research participants and that afects in the inadequate handling of sexual conduct. Programs must be designed from the adolescents’ active participation on sexuality and gender.

Palavras-chave : Gender; gender stereotypes; sexual health; adolescence.