"The bathhouse is . . .
Mar. 15th, 2004 04:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jawnbc. . . and HIV aware environment characterized by somatically focused and depersonalized social rituals in order to obtain easy access to sex. However, bathhouses were also viewed as a sexual venue that was personally safe." (Haubrich, Myers, Calzavara, Ryder & Medved, 2004, p. 26)*
If frequent flyer points were awarded for visits to the tubs, I'd have enough points to fly round-the-world in First Class. If bonus points were awarded based on how many miles one covers wander the halls (again and again and again), I'd be bringing all my relations with me. Depending on how you construct meaning around these things, I am:
+ friendly
+ easy
+ sex-positive (though not HIV positive, so as to avoid confusion of terms)
+ a pig
I don't wholly disagree with the above quote. I agree that part of what I love about bathhouses is the lack of complication when compared with bar hookups or cruising public spaces like parks or washrooms. For me, the venue's security--homphobes out, police out, hot water and fresh towels in--is a big part of the appeal. Aside from the men.
Mmmmmm, mmmmmmen.
But I do reject any idea that bathhouse sex is generally depersonal, cold or calculating. Guys general cut to the chase and communicate (non-verbally and verbally) what they seek, what they're willing to do, and what not. But the encounters I have vary widely. Some are the stereotype that some presume: fast, furious, superficially depersonalized: in reality, no one I know puts up with clueless jerks who pay no attention to their playmates' needs. Some encounters are very passionate, with lots of stroking, kissing and exploring--not quite romantic, but definately sweet. And hawt. Others are playful, almost adolescent with elements of micheviousness, teasing, giggling even. Most integrate more than one of these archetypes.
But a lot of are, in fact, engaging in sem-regular partner sex. We go to the same venues, often the same nights of the weeks, and often we play with those we've played with before. Most guys I know from the tubs smile and say hello if we meet in other contexts. During such repeat encounters, there's both the certainty that we're both looking for the same thing (sex) and the expectation that we know a bit about how to turn one another's crank.
And of course there's nights where we acknowledge one another, but play with New Talent: special guest stars from out-of-town, or perhaps someone I've lusted out and about who's suddenly, uh, ripe for the picking.
Do I expect everyone shares my ethos regarding bathhouses and bathhouse sex? No. But I find characterizations of it as cold, mechanical, even somewhat exploitative, inaccurate and unfair. And the level of sexual integrity with respect to condoms for fucking is variable, but still quite high. Often those who aren't attuned to safer sex notions are in the minority who are loaded beyond rationality. Where, in my opinion, it is the loadedness that's the risk issue--not being in a bathhouse.
In the 80s many major US cities closed gay bathhouses, while Canada, Europe and Australia kept most open. HIV rates show no relation to bathhouse access--in fact more new infections happen<i> in relationships,</i> not sex venues. Sexual health and wellness education principles are the same, regardless of site of sexual expression: clear understanding of health risk, examination and reflection of when risk occurs, technical information to reduce or eliminate risk, and process and analysis of implementing that harm minimization information. With lovers, or tricks, or johns, or bathhouse attenders or fuck buddies. Contextualize the processes, but don't link risk to the sites themselves. That's facile--and inaccurate.
*Haubrich, D.J., Myers, T., Calzavara, L., Ryder, K., & Medved, W. (2004). Gay and bisexual men's experiences of bathouse culture and sex: 'looking for love in all the wrong places'.Culture, Health & Sexuality 6(1), 19-29.
If frequent flyer points were awarded for visits to the tubs, I'd have enough points to fly round-the-world in First Class. If bonus points were awarded based on how many miles one covers wander the halls (again and again and again), I'd be bringing all my relations with me. Depending on how you construct meaning around these things, I am:
+ friendly
+ easy
+ sex-positive (though not HIV positive, so as to avoid confusion of terms)
+ a pig
I don't wholly disagree with the above quote. I agree that part of what I love about bathhouses is the lack of complication when compared with bar hookups or cruising public spaces like parks or washrooms. For me, the venue's security--homphobes out, police out, hot water and fresh towels in--is a big part of the appeal. Aside from the men.
Mmmmmm, mmmmmmen.
But I do reject any idea that bathhouse sex is generally depersonal, cold or calculating. Guys general cut to the chase and communicate (non-verbally and verbally) what they seek, what they're willing to do, and what not. But the encounters I have vary widely. Some are the stereotype that some presume: fast, furious, superficially depersonalized: in reality, no one I know puts up with clueless jerks who pay no attention to their playmates' needs. Some encounters are very passionate, with lots of stroking, kissing and exploring--not quite romantic, but definately sweet. And hawt. Others are playful, almost adolescent with elements of micheviousness, teasing, giggling even. Most integrate more than one of these archetypes.
But a lot of are, in fact, engaging in sem-regular partner sex. We go to the same venues, often the same nights of the weeks, and often we play with those we've played with before. Most guys I know from the tubs smile and say hello if we meet in other contexts. During such repeat encounters, there's both the certainty that we're both looking for the same thing (sex) and the expectation that we know a bit about how to turn one another's crank.
And of course there's nights where we acknowledge one another, but play with New Talent: special guest stars from out-of-town, or perhaps someone I've lusted out and about who's suddenly, uh, ripe for the picking.
Do I expect everyone shares my ethos regarding bathhouses and bathhouse sex? No. But I find characterizations of it as cold, mechanical, even somewhat exploitative, inaccurate and unfair. And the level of sexual integrity with respect to condoms for fucking is variable, but still quite high. Often those who aren't attuned to safer sex notions are in the minority who are loaded beyond rationality. Where, in my opinion, it is the loadedness that's the risk issue--not being in a bathhouse.
In the 80s many major US cities closed gay bathhouses, while Canada, Europe and Australia kept most open. HIV rates show no relation to bathhouse access--in fact more new infections happen<i> in relationships,</i> not sex venues. Sexual health and wellness education principles are the same, regardless of site of sexual expression: clear understanding of health risk, examination and reflection of when risk occurs, technical information to reduce or eliminate risk, and process and analysis of implementing that harm minimization information. With lovers, or tricks, or johns, or bathhouse attenders or fuck buddies. Contextualize the processes, but don't link risk to the sites themselves. That's facile--and inaccurate.
*Haubrich, D.J., Myers, T., Calzavara, L., Ryder, K., & Medved, W. (2004). Gay and bisexual men's experiences of bathouse culture and sex: 'looking for love in all the wrong places'.Culture, Health & Sexuality 6(1), 19-29.
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just wondering
Date: 2004-03-15 04:22 am (UTC)You have any hard data or sources to back that statement up? Statistics from public health depts of the major US cities or the CDC? Or are you speaking while the bathhouses were open, because obviously now with them closed in the US (or most of them), the venue for transmission will be changed.
Re: just wondering
Date: 2004-03-15 04:53 pm (UTC)http://www.aidsmap.com/news/newsdisplay2.asp?newsId=2031 (Amsterdam)
http://www.pulsus.com/CAHR2003/abs/abs254.htm (Vancouver)
There's similar data from the CDC in the States, here in Australia too . . .