Feminist Approaches to Youth Sexualities

Anonymised transcript of interview with 19 year old young women (Sonia) training to be a nurse. Has moved to Manchester from outside the area for her training. Talks in detail about three long terms relationships with men. The first took place between the ages of 13-17 and became sexual over time when she was 16 and ended after she left for University. The second developed during her first year in Manchester with a man who was keen that they get married. The relationship ended when he became violent. The third was with someone she met at work and is the ‘best so far’. Hints early and later in the interview that she was sexually abused in childhood which makes sex very complicated for her. In relationships so far she has had sex to make men happy but getting no pleasure herself. She would like to enjoy sex and is curious whether this is possible. Knows that orgasms are possible but has not experienced one. As a nurse is well informed about STDs, risks and contraception. She has been on the pill since 14 to help with painful periods. Parents divorced. Being Catholic mentioned several times. Keen to travel (planning on completing training in Australia) and ambivalent about marriage and children. Career important to her. Had limited, biological sex education at Catholic school, and has not had any AIDS education during her nursing training.

Title	Interview with Sonia, 19, White British, middle class. Women, Risk and AIDS Project, Manchester, 1989. Anonymised version (Ref NVR50)
Description	Anonymised transcript of interview with 19 year old young women (Sonia) training to be a nurse. Has moved to Manchester from outside the area for her training. Talks in detail about three long terms relationships with men. The first took place between the ages of 13-17 and became sexual over time when she was 16 and ended after she left for University. The second developed during her first year in Manchester with a man who was keen that they get married. The relationship ended when he became violent. The third was with someone she met at work and is the ‘best so far’. Hints early and later in the interview that she was sexually abused in childhood which makes sex very complicated for her. In relationships so far she has had sex to make men happy but getting no pleasure herself. She would like to enjoy sex and is curious whether this is possible. Knows that orgasms are possible but has not experienced one. As a nurse is well informed about STDs, risks and contraception. She has been on the pill since 14 to help with painful periods. Parents divorced. Being Catholic mentioned several times. Keen to travel (planning on completing training in Australia) and ambivalent about marriage and children. Career important to her. Had limited, biological sex education at Catholic school, and has not had any AIDS education during her nursing training.
Identifier	NUR50/O
Subject	White British Middle class No religion Aspirations Catholic school Faith school Relationships Relationship break ups Unwanted sex Consent First sex Pressure Regret Sexual pleasure Domestic violence Family life Risk Pill Condom use Marriage.
Date	22/05/1989
Creator	Women, Risk and AIDS Project (WRAP, 1989-90)
Publisher	The Reanimating Data Project (2018-20)
Type	Text
Temporal Coverage	1989
Spatial Coverage	Greater Manchester
Rights	CC BY-NC 4.0

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