Project MUSE®: The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality - Latest Articles
https://muse.jhu.edu/journal/649
Project MUSE®: Latest articles in The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality.daily12026-05-16T00:00:00-05:00text/htmlen-USVol. 23 (2014) through vol. 34 (2025)Latest Articles: The Canadian Journal of Human SexualityTWOProject MUSE®The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality2291-70631188-4517Latest articles in The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality. Feed provided by Project MUSE®We are Sexual Too: A partnership to support the intimate citizenship of disabled youth across Canada
https://muse.jhu.edu/article/984263
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Sexuality is a fundamental human right and a core aspect of human identity (United Nations, 2006; World Health Organization, 2002). Sexuality shapes various dimensions of life, including self-perception, body image, and the ability to engage in meaningful intimate relationships. Despite its significance, societal perceptions often construct disabled1 bodies and minds as undesirable, leading to infantilization, marginalization, and/or hypersexualization (Erickson, 2016, 2020; McRuer, 2015). Disabled youth represent approximately 20% of all children in Canada, yet they are frequently denied their human right to access sexuality information and support (Statistics Canada, 2022). The dominant biomedical approach to
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Project MUSE®https://muse.jhu.edu/2026-05-16T00:00:00-05:00https://muse.jhu.edu/journal/649/image/coversmallWe are Sexual Too: A partnership to support the intimate citizenship of disabled youth across Canada2026-03-02text/htmlen-USWe are Sexual Too: A partnership to support the intimate citizenship of disabled youth across Canada2026-03-022026TWOProject MUSE®1150012026-05-16T00:00:00-05:002026-03-02Alexithymia is associated with greater sexual distress among women and men
https://muse.jhu.edu/article/984264
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Theory and research support that the ability to recognize, communicate, and regulate emotions and bodily sensations is integral to sexual function, including arousal, desire, and orgasm (Ceunen et al., 2016; Costa et al., 2016; Fischer et al., 2022; Rosen & Bergeron, 2019). Alexithymia is characterized by core difficulties in identifying and recognizing emotions, as well as describing and communicating about emotions. Relatedly, alexithymia is also associated with an externally oriented thinking style, which reflects being less attentive to emotional experiences and a tendency to attribute emotional and bodily sensations to external rather than internal sources (Bagby et al., 1994; Gori et al., 2012; Preece &
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Project MUSE®https://muse.jhu.edu/2026-05-16T00:00:00-05:00https://muse.jhu.edu/journal/649/image/coversmallAlexithymia is associated with greater sexual distress among women and men2026-03-02text/htmlen-USAlexithymia is associated with greater sexual distress among women and men2026-03-022026TWOProject MUSE®936492026-05-16T00:00:00-05:002026-03-02Addressing impacts of communication and swallowing disabilities on sexuality and intimacy: Practices of speech-language pathologists
https://muse.jhu.edu/article/984262
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Sexuality refers to the way a person experiences and expresses themselves sexually, and intimacy refers to a feeling of closeness or connectedness with another person. Sexuality is important to quality of life (e.g., Lemieux et al., 2001; Ollivier et al., 2018). A common theme in sexuality research is that sexuality is a form of communication (McCormick, 1980). While people have sex for many reasons, a study of more than 1,500 people identified expressing love, closeness, and affection for another person as common reasons to engage in sexual activity (Meston & Buss, 2007). Most notably, a commonly reported reason for having sex was “I wanted to communicate at a ‘deeper’ level” (Meston & Buss, 2007). Thus
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Project MUSE®https://muse.jhu.edu/2026-05-16T00:00:00-05:00https://muse.jhu.edu/journal/649/image/coversmallAddressing impacts of communication and swallowing disabilities on sexuality and intimacy: Practices of speech-language pathologists2026-03-02text/htmlen-USAddressing impacts of communication and swallowing disabilities on sexuality and intimacy: Practices of speech-language pathologists2026-03-022026TWOProject MUSE®1272182026-05-16T00:00:00-05:002026-03-02Legal interpretations of complainant sexual arousal in Canadian sexual assault trials
https://muse.jhu.edu/article/984249
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Rates of police-reported sexual assault in Canada increased by 38% from 2017 to 2022, rising from 66 to 91 victims per 100,000 population (Conroy, 2024). Pressures exerted by activist movements may have contributed to these increases, yet sexual assault continues to remain the crime with the lowest rate of police reporting (Conroy, 2024). When reporting, survivors can be at risk of re-victimization due to systemic failings in the legal process. In some cases, flawed investigations, arbitrary dismissals, victim-blaming, and biased interpretations of legal evidence through adherence to myths about sexual assault can lead to a phenomenon described as institutional betrayal (Lorenz et al., 2019; Smith & Freyd, 2013).In
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Project MUSE®https://muse.jhu.edu/2026-05-16T00:00:00-05:00https://muse.jhu.edu/journal/649/image/coversmallLegal interpretations of complainant sexual arousal in Canadian sexual assault trials2026-03-02text/htmlen-USLegal interpretations of complainant sexual arousal in Canadian sexual assault trials2026-03-022026TWOProject MUSE®2138342026-05-16T00:00:00-05:002026-03-02Characteristics of gender minority youth in Canada, 15–17 years of age, by gender identity disclosure patterns to parents and teachers: A descriptive study in response to anti-trans legislation
https://muse.jhu.edu/article/984250
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Nearly 100 bills were introduced in the United States in 2021 since reversed this policy; Chapter 46 -The Education [Parents’ aimed at restricting transgender and gender-expansive (TGE) Bill of Rights] Amendment Act, 2023; Government of New Brunsstudents’ access to various school spaces, including sport particiwick, 2023). In 2024, Alberta (AB) premier Danielle Smith intropation and washrooms (Richgels et al., 2021). In 2023, over 500 duced even more extensive restrictions than those used in SK and anti-trans bills were proposed in the United States (Simmons, NB, additionally forbidding trans women from participation in 2023). Limited early research suggests that these legislative shifts women’s sports and banning
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Project MUSE®https://muse.jhu.edu/2026-05-16T00:00:00-05:00https://muse.jhu.edu/journal/649/image/coversmallCharacteristics of gender minority youth in Canada, 15–17 years of age, by gender identity disclosure patterns to parents and teachers: A descriptive study in response to anti-trans legislation2026-03-02text/htmlen-USCharacteristics of gender minority youth in Canada, 15–17 years of age, by gender identity disclosure patterns to parents and teachers: A descriptive study in response to anti-trans legislation2026-03-022026TWOProject MUSE®1753052026-05-16T00:00:00-05:002026-03-02Disclosure to family and well-being among bi+ youth: The role of authenticity and family bullying
https://muse.jhu.edu/article/984251
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Many refer to bi+ individuals as the invisible majority, with estimates showing that they make up more than half of the lesbian, gay, and bi+ (LGB) population in Canada aged 15 and older (Statistics Canada, 2021). The term bi+ accounts for the diversity of plurisexual orientations that fall under the umbrella of bisexuality—those that allow for attraction to more than one gender, such as bisexual and pansexual identities (Flanders et al., 2017; Galupo et al., 2017). The definitions associated with bisexuality are plural and vary across individuals and the contexts in which they evolve (Flanders et al., 2017). These definitions can refer to either binary or non-binary conceptions of gender (Flanders et al., 2017;
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Project MUSE®https://muse.jhu.edu/2026-05-16T00:00:00-05:00https://muse.jhu.edu/journal/649/image/coversmallDisclosure to family and well-being among bi+ youth: The role of authenticity and family bullying2026-03-02text/htmlen-USDisclosure to family and well-being among bi+ youth: The role of authenticity and family bullying2026-03-022026TWOProject MUSE®2659582026-05-16T00:00:00-05:002026-03-02Broadening the lens: The generalizability of implicit theories of sexuality across sociodemographic variables
https://muse.jhu.edu/article/984252
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Social relationships play a crucial role in well-being, with extensive research demonstrating the many benefits of social connection (House et al., 1988), including to health (see meta-analysis by Robles et al., 2014, and review by Slatcher & Selcuk, 2017), and subjective well-being (see Di Malta et al., 2024, and review by Kansky, 2018). Notably, the impact of social connections on mortality risk is comparable to well-established risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical inactivity (review by Holt-Lunstad et al., 2010). For many people, their perceptions of their romantic relationships are important for their well-being (see meta-analysis by Proulx et al., 2007). One key aspect of romantic
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Project MUSE®https://muse.jhu.edu/2026-05-16T00:00:00-05:00https://muse.jhu.edu/journal/649/image/coversmallBroadening the lens: The generalizability of implicit theories of sexuality across sociodemographic variables2026-03-02text/htmlen-USBroadening the lens: The generalizability of implicit theories of sexuality across sociodemographic variables2026-03-022026TWOProject MUSE®1808222026-05-16T00:00:00-05:002026-03-02You and I plus AI: A qualitative exploration of replika in the context of human relationships
https://muse.jhu.edu/article/984253
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Every new phase of technological innovation throughout history has impacted intimate and sexual relationships, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to run conversational agents is at the forefront of current innovation in these areas. AI conversational agents, or AI companions, without physical form, are becoming not only objects of desire but perceived as subjects themselves (Dubé & Anctil, 2021). Bonds with AI conversational agents are a type of parasocial relationship in which a meaningful attachment is formed with an “other,” although the other is unaware (Bentley, 2018; Langcaster-James et al., 2024). Research on developing love and attachment bonds between humans and robots has been called lovotics
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Project MUSE®https://muse.jhu.edu/2026-05-16T00:00:00-05:00https://muse.jhu.edu/journal/649/image/coversmallYou and I plus AI: A qualitative exploration of replika in the context of human relationships2026-03-02text/htmlen-USYou and I plus AI: A qualitative exploration of replika in the context of human relationships2026-03-022026TWOProject MUSE®1580752026-05-16T00:00:00-05:002026-03-02Predicting self-efficacy to teach comprehensive sex education
https://muse.jhu.edu/article/984254
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Comprehensive sex education (CSE) is broad in scope and grounded in credible scientific evidence about sexual health information and effective pedagogical methods for teaching critical sex education curriculum (Sex Information & Education Council of Canada [SIECCAN], 2019). The provision of schoolbased CSE is associated with a multitude of positive outcomes for health and well-being (Goldfarb & Lieberman, 2021; Leung et al., 2019; Pound et al., 2017; United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization [UNESCO], 2018). In particular, CSE is associated with the development of healthy relationships, communication skills, knowledge of issues relating to gender equity and diversity, along with decreases in
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Project MUSE®https://muse.jhu.edu/2026-05-16T00:00:00-05:00https://muse.jhu.edu/journal/649/image/coversmallPredicting self-efficacy to teach comprehensive sex education2026-03-02text/htmlen-USPredicting self-efficacy to teach comprehensive sex education2026-03-022026TWOProject MUSE®948402026-05-16T00:00:00-05:002026-03-02A qualitative inquiry into the social contextual factors among young adults involved in the commercial sex industry
https://muse.jhu.edu/article/984255
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The adult commercial sex industry is a large and global industry that involves any adult who has paid or received money, goods, or services in exchange for sexual services (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime [UNODC], 2000). Canadian legislation does not explicitly prohibit the selling of sexual services; however, many activities relating to the commercial sex industry are prohibited under the Criminal Code of Canada Section 212(5), such as procuring someone to have sexual intercourse with another individual or publicly engaging in or soliciting sexual services. Canadian laws also consider human trafficking, which refers to the “recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, or receipt of persons” under
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Project MUSE®https://muse.jhu.edu/2026-05-16T00:00:00-05:00https://muse.jhu.edu/journal/649/image/coversmallA qualitative inquiry into the social contextual factors among young adults involved in the commercial sex industry2026-03-02text/htmlen-USA qualitative inquiry into the social contextual factors among young adults involved in the commercial sex industry2026-03-022026TWOProject MUSE®1459902026-05-16T00:00:00-05:002026-03-02Sexual motives as mediators of the association between social anxiety and sexual satisfaction in mixed-gender couples
https://muse.jhu.edu/article/984256
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People with social anxiety (SA) form romantic relationships despite their worries (Beck et al., 2006) but tend to have dissatisfying sexual relationships (Kashdan, Adams et al., 2011). One path by which SA might affect sexual satisfaction is through people’s motives for sex. Individuals who engage in sex to gain desirable outcomes, such as love or pleasure (i.e., approach sex motives), tend to experience more positive relationship outcomes, but those who engage in sex to avoid negative outcomes, such as relationship conflict (i.e., avoidance sex motives), experience more negative relationship outcomes (Cooper et al., 2011; Impett et al., 2005). Socially anxious individuals have difficulty asserting and prioritizing
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Project MUSE®https://muse.jhu.edu/2026-05-16T00:00:00-05:00https://muse.jhu.edu/journal/649/image/coversmallSexual motives as mediators of the association between social anxiety and sexual satisfaction in mixed-gender couples2026-03-02text/htmlen-USSexual motives as mediators of the association between social anxiety and sexual satisfaction in mixed-gender couples2026-03-022026TWOProject MUSE®1993992026-05-16T00:00:00-05:002026-03-02Spicing it up: A qualitative analysis of discussions of sexual novelty in mixed-gender couples
https://muse.jhu.edu/article/984257
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Sexual frequency declines in relationships over time (McNulty et al., 2016), and desire fluctuates over the long term (Harris et al., 2023) but wanes for newlywed women over the first few years of marriage (McNulty et al., 2019). Given bidirectional associations between sex frequency and sexual satisfaction (McNulty et al., 2016), understanding what couples might naturally do to buffer declines is critical. A potential avenue to mitigate negative sexual outcomes is integrating sexual novelty, which includes sexual behaviours that are new to either partner or activities that are new to the relationship (Morton, 2016). Sexual novelty is positively related to sex frequency and sexual and relationship satisfaction
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Project MUSE®https://muse.jhu.edu/2026-05-16T00:00:00-05:00https://muse.jhu.edu/journal/649/image/coversmallSpicing it up: A qualitative analysis of discussions of sexual novelty in mixed-gender couples2026-03-02text/htmlen-USSpicing it up: A qualitative analysis of discussions of sexual novelty in mixed-gender couples2026-03-022026TWOProject MUSE®1581802026-05-16T00:00:00-05:002026-03-02Sexual satisfaction of partnered men who have sex with men: A test of the interpersonal exchange model of sexual satisfaction
https://muse.jhu.edu/article/984258
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The importance of sexual satisfaction in romantic relationships is evident from the fact that higher sexual satisfaction is linked with greater overall relationship satisfaction and stability, psychological well-being, physical health, and quality of life (Byers & MacNeil, 2006; Byers & Rehman, 2014). These findings have largely focused on male–female relationships; less is known about the sexual satisfaction of individuals in same-gender relationships (Byers & Rehman, 2014; Rehman et al., 2013). The interpersonal exchange model of sexual satisfaction (IEMSS) provides a theoretical framework for examining the factors influencing sexual satisfaction in relationships. It has been shown to be valid for heterosexual
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Project MUSE®https://muse.jhu.edu/2026-05-16T00:00:00-05:00https://muse.jhu.edu/journal/649/image/coversmallSexual satisfaction of partnered men who have sex with men: A test of the interpersonal exchange model of sexual satisfaction2026-03-02text/htmlen-USSexual satisfaction of partnered men who have sex with men: A test of the interpersonal exchange model of sexual satisfaction2026-03-022026TWOProject MUSE®1404082026-05-16T00:00:00-05:002026-03-02Investigating the role of substance use in coping with genitopelvic pain/penetration disorder
https://muse.jhu.edu/article/984259
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Genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder (GPPPD) is a common health issue among women and individuals, characterized by pain upon vaginal penetration (Jivani et al., 2023; Pukall et al., 2016). This pain may interfere with sexual activity, as well as gynecological examinations or tampon insertion. GPPPD not only impacts physical well-being but also has a significant impact on mental health and relationships. Women and individuals with GPPPD may experience strain in romantic relationships and psychological distress, anxiety, and depression (Alizadeh & Farnam, 2021; Meana & Binik, 2022; Shallcross et al., 2018). Despite its prevalence and impact, GPPPD is a significantly underdiagnosed disorder, partly due to limited
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Project MUSE®https://muse.jhu.edu/2026-05-16T00:00:00-05:00https://muse.jhu.edu/journal/649/image/coversmallInvestigating the role of substance use in coping with genitopelvic pain/penetration disorder2026-03-02text/htmlen-USInvestigating the role of substance use in coping with genitopelvic pain/penetration disorder2026-03-022026TWOProject MUSE®1143612026-05-16T00:00:00-05:002026-03-02Fucking, sucking, and scissoring in the archive: Histories of queer sex in Nova Scotia through ephemeral archives and material history (1969–1999)
https://muse.jhu.edu/article/984260
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In 1972, Vern L. Bullough called historians to deal with the experience of sex as a category of analysis in their studies. While some scholars, like Alan Hunt and Bruce Curtis (2006), do address the physical nature, in many areas Bullough’s call appears to remain unanswered. It would seem logical that a field engaged with the histories of same-sex rights, activisms, and histories would lead the charge. Yet, as this article will establish, within Canadian queer history, sex itself is often avoided, merely mentioned, or implied rather than studied. Through case studies from episodes in Nova Scotia queer history, I argue that sex—understood here as the physical or material experience of sexual intercourse as it
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Project MUSE®https://muse.jhu.edu/2026-05-16T00:00:00-05:00https://muse.jhu.edu/journal/649/image/coversmallFucking, sucking, and scissoring in the archive: Histories of queer sex in Nova Scotia through ephemeral archives and material history (1969–1999)2026-03-02text/htmlen-USFucking, sucking, and scissoring in the archive: Histories of queer sex in Nova Scotia through ephemeral archives and material history (1969–1999)2026-03-022026TWOProject MUSE®728382026-05-16T00:00:00-05:002026-03-02Exploring digit ratio and handedness in asexual and allosexual individuals
https://muse.jhu.edu/article/984261
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One of the earliest documented accounts of human asexuality was in 1948 when Alfred Kinsey and colleagues included a category “X”—defined as having no socio-sexual contacts or reactions—to the Kinsey one-dimensional scale of sexual orientation. Over 30 years later, Storms (1980) described asexuality using a twodimensional model of erotic orientation with a focus on the absence of sexual orientation. Despite these early reports, however, little academic attention was given to the topic of asexuality until recent years. The development of the prominent international online community of asexual individuals in 2002, known as the Asexuality and Visibility Education Network (AVEN, http://www.asexuality.org), along with
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Project MUSE®https://muse.jhu.edu/2026-05-16T00:00:00-05:00https://muse.jhu.edu/journal/649/image/coversmallExploring digit ratio and handedness in asexual and allosexual individuals2026-03-02text/htmlen-USExploring digit ratio and handedness in asexual and allosexual individuals2026-03-022026TWOProject MUSE®1460192026-05-16T00:00:00-05:002026-03-02