A Quantitative Analysis of Sexual Experiences Among Black Individuals across Women, Men, and Genderqueer Individuals

Background and Purpose: Research has predominantly centered on White, cisgender populations’ sexual experiences. While gender identity shapes sexual behaviors, feelings, and interactions, research on Black sexual experiences has been neglected or treated monolithically across gender identities. This knowledge gap limits social workers’ ability to address the diverse sexual health needs of Black communities. Using a Black critical feminist lens, the purpose of this study was to investigate differences in sexual experiences among Black adults, comparing gendered self-perceptions, gender expectations, sexual expectations, and pleasure motivations across women, men, and genderqueer individuals.

Methods: Secondary data analysis was conducted using a cross-sectional publicly available dataset that was restricted to Black-identifying adults (N = 100). One-way ANOVAs examined differences across three gender identities and (a) self-perceptions (feeling, appearance, behavior, interests) using the Sexual Identity Scale (SIS), which assesses gender identity on a continuum from masculinity to femininity, and (b) indicators of gender expectations (behaviors, interests, expressions). A Chi-square tested the relationship between gender identity and sexual expectations (i.e., changes in sexual behavior based on partner’s gender). Logistic regression examined differences in gender identities and pleasure motivations (i.e., orgasm as a goal during sex).

Results: Participants identified as women (n = 52, 52.0%), men (n = 34, 34.0%), or genderqueer (n = 14, 14.0%). The mean age was 27.9 years (SD = 4.3). The sample exhibited diverse sexual orientations, with 45.0% identifying within the LGBTQIA2S+ spectrum.

One-way ANOVA indicated significant differences in SIS scores across gender identities for feeling (F(2, 97) = 127.25, p < 0.001, appearance (F(2, 95) = 103.42, p < 0.001, behavior (F(2, 95) = 50.06, p < 0.001, and interests (F(2, 95) = 3.20, p = 0.045. Post hoc analyses showed that women rated themselves as more feminine than men and genderqueer individuals across all self-perceptions. Gender expectation discrepancy significantly differed by gender identity for behaviors (F(2, 95) = 7.226, p = 0.001, interests (F(2, 97) = 3.420, p = 0.037, and expressions (F(2, 94) = 4.080, p = 0.020. Genderqueer individuals reported greater gender expectation discrepancies than women and men across all gender expectations.

Gender identity significantly related to changes in sexual expectations based on partner gender, χ²(4) = 12.70, p = 0.013. Orgasm was identified as central to pleasure motivation by 44.9% of participants. Women were more likely than genderqueer individuals to prioritize orgasm (OR = 6.02, p = 0.03), but not (OR = 4.85, p = 0.062).

Conclusions and Implications: This study reveals Black sexual experiences are not monolithic. A Black critical feminist lens is needed to expand research on sexuality to better inform healthy sexual development. Findings urge researchers, policymakers, and advocates to liberate sexuality from White heteronormative constraints and recognize sexual diversity to affirm that all bodies deserve care and pleasure.