Abstract Book of the 2nd International Social Sciences and Humanities Conference
Year: 2025
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Sociocultural Analysis of Adolescent’s Sexual Behavior
Dr. Lamya Allam; Moulay Smail Hafidy Alaoui
ABSTRACT:
In Arab’s countries, the cultural norm governing premarital sexuality is abstinence. It is portrayed as a deviant behavior, stigmatizing those who engage in it as deviants. Despite this, Morocco is undergoing a sexual transition, and premarital sexuality does indeed exist among adults. However, it is never studied exclusively among adolescents. To analyze adolescents’ sexual practices as well as the interacting factors like the role of parents, peers, and school sexual education. Five focus groups were conducted with 69 adolescents in the Rabat-Sale-Kenitra region. Data analysis was carried out by coding, comparing, and grouping similar items, followed by cross-analysis of the resulting variables. Results: Moroccan adolescents engage in sexual behaviors. Both girls and boys perceive sexuality as an emotional social relationship, distinct from procreation. However, sexual practices are influenced by gender stereotypes that require girls to preserve their virginity, while encouraging boys to engage in sexual experimentation to prove their performance and virility. Faced this strict social norm, adolescents involved in risky sexual behaviors, including contact with prostitution for male, and the practice of anal and oral sex for female. Difficulties in obtaining financial resources and logistical means to sustain relationships observed and prompting the development of new strategies to overcome these challenges. Conclusion: The difference between social norms and behaviors prevents adolescents from experiencing a fulfilling sexuality. Guidance and promotion of knowledge are necessary to protect their health particularly through an intersectoral approach.
Keywords: adolescent sexuality, sexual behavior, social norms, sexual education