engleski

Self-silencing and sexual subjectivity in young females

Objective: Viewing development of sexuality in adolescence trough normative perspective created new body of research especially on the development of sexual self-conception (sexual subjectivity). Sexual subjectivity is multidimensional phenomenon which is often defined as having a sense of entitlement to sexual pleasure and sexual safety - interacted with intraindividual and psychological well-being. Previous studies showed that among adolescent girls, sexual subjectivity was associated with higher self-esteem and resistance to sexual double standards. Purpose of this study is to examine relation between dimensions of sexual subjectivity and self-silencing in Croatian sample of young women. Design and Method: In this study 141 female college students between the ages 19 to 26 were assessed with Self-silencing scale, the Female sexual subjectivity inventory and Sexual experience scale. Results: All participants were sexually active. Average age of sexual initiation was 18, which is slightly later than in other similar studies. It was found that self-silencing is in significant negative correlation with four dimensions of sexual subjectivity ; with sexual body-esteem, sense of entitlement to sexual pleasure from partner, self-efficacy in achieving sexual pleasure, and sexual self-reflection. Further, dimensions of sexual subjectivity are in positive relations. Hence, sexual body-esteem correlates positively only with self-efficacy in achieving sexual pleasure, while intercorrelations of other dimensions of sexual subjectivity are positive and significant. Conclusions: It seems that in general if young women silence their feeling, thoughts and actions in close relationships they will experience low level of sexual subjectivity.

Self-silencing; sexual subjectivity; female college students

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