Youth, sexuality, and health: theoretical and methodological reflections based on a multisituated research on youth’s affective-sexual trajectories

Abstract

This study describes the theoretical perspectives and methodological assumptions that underpin the research “Jovens da era digital” [Youth in the digital age], a socio-anthropological study regarding youth sexuality carried out with young people aged 16 to 24 years between 2021 and 2022 in six Brazilian cities. This study examines the concepts of sexuality and gender socialization in conjunction with notions of youth and adulthood transitions, which comprise fundamental aspects of the research. The methodological features of the research seek to reflect on the barriers faced in carrying out such a study, the fieldwork strategies adopted, and the current conditions for scientific research with young people hailing from an array of social contexts. The study conclusion expounds upon recent moral disputes surrounding youth sexuality, which greatly impact public policies concerning adolescents and young people.