Sexual+Communication


 * Etymology and Definition**

According to the Oxford English Dictionary (Sexual, 2015), sexual as an adjective can be traced as far back as the 5th century in Latin to the term “sexualis “, meaning a “characteristic of or peculiar to the female sex” or “feminine”.

The contemporary definition of the term sexual, according to the Oxford English Dictionary (Sexual, 2015) is comprised of two parts:
 * 1) “Of, relating to, or arising from the fact or condition of being either male or female” and
 * 2) “…of, relating to, or arising from gender, orientation with regard to sex, or the social and cultural relations between the sexes.”


 * Sexual Communication in Communication Studies**

As a concept, sexual communication entered into communication studies in 1984 in the Journal of Western Speech Communication. Wheeless, Wheeless, & Baus (1984) proposed that sexual communication satisfaction, which is measured by a partner’s satisfaction with communication about sexual behavior with their counterpart, as well as the satisfaction that is simply implied by the sexual behavior itself, had an impact on the development of an intimate relationship.

In communication, sexual communication and gender communication frequently overlap in the literature. Sloop (2006) explained that the overlap of these two areas is due to the fact that in research, sexuality is unable to be a separate topic from gender because the very meaning of the word gender provides an assumption about an individual’s sexuality (p.361).


 * Sexual Communication and Relational Development**

A common interest among sexual communication scholars is exploring the interactions among the sexes. Flirting, a common interaction prior to a relationship, has been studied by communication scholars. Henningsen, Braz & Davies (2008) examined both the nonverbal and verbal interactions among college students and grown adults in the workplace. They found that students are more motivated by sex to flirt than adults in the workplace, and that men indicated that their idea of flirting was more sexual in nature in comparison to women (p. 497).

Before a sexually intimate relationship is formed, dating scripts are based on expectations, and is small talk utilized to expose the desirable characteristics individuals seek in a potential partner. Metts (2006) found that men and women, whether in pursuit of a heterosexual or same sex relationship, seek out someone with physical attractiveness, compatible interests, and dating intentions through small talk and laugher dating scripts.

After a relationship has developed, the man is typically the counterpart to initiate a sexually intimate relationship, whereas women serve as a gatekeeper for sexually intimacy, controlling the “moves” in heterosexual relationships (Metts, 2006).


 * Sexual Communication and Interpersonal Communication**

In communication studies, sexual communication is a topic of discussion within interpersonal relationships. One interpersonal aspect in communication that has received some attention is sex in romantic relationships. Anderson, Kunkel, & Dennis (2011) studied the reasons why couples avert from conversing about past sexual experiences while with their current partner. Two of the reasons couples avoided conversing about past partners is that it could arouse upsetting feelings and be a perceived threat to the relationship.

Interpersonal communication scholars have also focused on behavioral skills associated with condom use. Holland & French (2012) focused their study on the ability of individuals to address and negotiate condom use with a partner as a dynamic process. Information and motivation alone to use condoms are not enough; it is communication that supports the use of condoms for safe sex practices.


 * Sexual Communication and Family Communication**

Sexual communication has also been studied in the context of family. Sexual communication as a concept as been discussed family communication in respect to married couples, as well as parent-child communication about sex. Coffelt & Hess (2015) focused on studying an under-examined component of sexual satisfaction for married couples, communication. They found that in marriages, sexual scripts are closely tied to marital satisfaction and the sexual scripts provide comfort, stability, and trust when followed by both partners.

Sex is often times a taboo topic of discussion in families between parents and children (Coffelt, 2010, pg. 126). Coffelt (2010) investigated the communication between mothers and daughters about sex .The challenges on the part of the daughters included the discomfort of being exposed to information about sex. The mothers found it difficult to select what sexual information to disclose, however, this study brought to light that the discussion becomes less awkward between mother and daughter into advanced adolescence because sex becomes viewed socially as a natural activity. Scholars have also studied father-child sexual communication. Wright (2009) synthesized a review of literature on this topic and found that fathers are more likely discuss with their sons rather than daughters about sex, the amount of sexual communication is more abundant if the father has a higher education attainment, and fathers whose parents discussed sex with them felt more confident in engaging their children in discussions about sex.


 * Sexual Communication and Mediated Communication**

With the rise of digital media via smartphones and social networking, there are inherent shifts in how different topics involving sex are communicated. Dir, Cyders, & Coskunpinar (2013) examined the communicative activity of sexting “…the exchange of sexually charged material via mobile phone or Internet social-networking site” (p. 1664), as a mediator between alcohol consumption and the pursuit of sexual hookups. Young adults communicate their desires for “sexual hookups” as well as the social implications that occur after a social behavior such as “sexting” occurs.

Bond, Hefner, and Drogos (2009, p.43) examined the formations LGB sexual identity through establishing a presence online. Scholars found that the use of the Internet acts as a critical tool for individuals to create a sexual identity, however, communicating outwardly toward family in adulthood would be less expected due to the interactive component of the Internet being incapable of paralleling with reality.


 * Sexual Communication and Health Communication**

Sexual communication is inherently an important concept in health communication. Emmers-Sommer, Nebel, Allison, Cannella, Cartmill, Ewing, & Wojtaszek (2009) examined the relationship between patient-provider and communication about the patients’ sexual health. These scholars found that women are more likely to initiate conversation about sexual health and sexually transmitted disease testing with their health care providers than men, and health care workers are more likely to initiate the conversation with female patients than male patients.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Campaigns, as an essential element of health communication, also frequent the concept of sexual communication. Evans, Davis, Ashley, & Khan (2012) examined the effectiveness of the U.S. department of Health and Human Services multi-media campaign including television, radio, print advertisements, and public service announcements. It was found that the parents exposed to the campaign reported more sexual communication to their children than to those not exposed, and children’s’ responses about corresponded with their parents about extent and content concerning sexual topics.

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 * References **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Anderson, M., Kunkel, A., & Dennis, M. R. (2011). “Let's (not) talk about that”: Bridging the past sexual experiences taboo to build healthy romantic relationships. //Journal of Sex Research, 48//(4), 381-391.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bond, B. J., Hefner, V., & Drogos, K. L. (2009). Information-seeking practices during the sexual development of lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals: The influence and effects of coming out in a mediated environment. //Sexuality & Culture, 13//(1), 32-50.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Coffelt, T. A. (2010). Is sexual communication challenging between mothers and daughters?. //Journal Of Family Communication, 10//(2), 116-130.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Coffelt, T. A., & Hess, J. A. (2015). Sexual goals-plans-actions: Toward a sexual script in marriage. //Communication Quarterly, 63//(2), 221-238.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dir, A. L., Cyders, M. A., & Coskunpinar, A. (2013). From the bar to the bed via mobile phone: A first test of the role of problematic alcohol use, sexting, and impulsivity-related traits in sexual hookups. //Computers in Human Behavior, 29//(4), 1664-1670.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Emmers-Sommer, T., Nebel, S., Allison, M., Cannella, M., Cartmill, D., Ewing, S., & Wojtaszek, B. (2009). Patient–provider communication about sexual health: The relationship with gender, age, gender-stereotypical beliefs, and perceptions of communication inappropriateness. //Sex Roles, 60//(9/10), 669-681.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Evans, W. D., Davis, K. C., Ashley, O. S., & Khan, M. (2012). Effects of media messages on parent–child sexual communication. //Journal Of Health Communication, 17//(5), 498-514.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Heisler, J. M. (2005). Family Communication About Sex: Parents and College-Aged Offspring Recall Discussion Topics, Satisfaction, and Parental Involvement. //Journal Of Family Communication, 5//(4), 295-312.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Henningsen, D. D., Braz, M., & Davies, E. (2008). Why do we flirt?. J//ournal Of Business Communication, 45//(4), 483-502.

Holland, K. J., & French, S. E. (2012). Condom negotiation strategy use and effectiveness among college students. //Journal Of Sex Research, 49//(5), 443-453.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Metts, S. (2006). Gendered communication in dating relationships. In B.J. Dow & J. Wood (Eds.) The SAGE handbook of gender and communication (p. 25-40). Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sexual. (2015). In Oxford English Dictionary. Retrieved from <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[]

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sloop, J. M. (2006). Critical studies in gender/sexuality and media. In B.J. Dow & J. Wood (Eds.). The SAGE handbook of gender communication (p. 319-333). Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Wheeless, L. R., Wheeless, V. E., & Baus, R. (1984). Sexual communication, communication satisfaction, and solidarity in the developmental stages of intimate relationships. //Western Journal Of Speech Communication, 48//(3), 217-230.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Wright, P. J. (2009). Father-Child Sexual Communication in the United States: A Review and Synthesis. //Journal Of Family Communication, 9//(4), 233-250.