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SAFE SEXUAL FREEDOMS: 
A NEW NARRATIVE FOR AN AGE OF RISK 
A thesis presented in partial fulfilment 
of the requirements 
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 
in Sociology at Massey University 
Allanah Marie Ryan 
1997 
ABSTRACT 
'Safe sexual freedoms' is a theoretical and political project of some urgency and this thesis 
offers a perspective on how best to understand and develop that project. A common political 
response to the recognition of HIY risk has been to argue that sexual freedom is an 
inappropriate political and ethical goal. I maintain, on the contrary, that no real change in the 
sexual practice of individuals is possible outside a radical humanist model of sexual freedom. 
This perspective is pursued through two interconnected forms of critique. Firstly, I 
undertake an evaluation of a number of prominent theoretical constructions of sexual 
freedom in relation to the values which they espouse and the understanding of the self that 
they promote. In engaging with the meaning of sexual autonomy in the writings of Reich, 
Foucault, feminists, and gay and queer theorists, I defend a theorisation of the social, sexual 
self in terms of narrative identity and ethical authenticity. This formulation, I believe, offers 
a satisfactory synthesis between a previously hegemonic 'leftist' humanist project of the self 
and the influential postrmdernist movement which came to dramatically overturn it. One of 
the primary consequences of the present analysis is the need to 'roll back' to an extent, the 
extraordinary - and deserved - place of Michel Foucault's work on issues of safe sex, 
liberation and human solidarity. 
The second moment of the thesis is rather different, though closely linked in conception. 
Drawing on research material which reveals how sexually active individuals construct their 
notions of sexual and personal autonomy, I explore the role of narrative identity in the sexual 
practice of individual gay men and heterosexual women. Through an analysis of eight case 
studies, I examine how individuals inhabit core sexual narratives that guide HIV risk 
assessment and sexual practice. These two levels of analysis (critique and lived experience) 
taken together, provide the means for developing a theoretical and political model of safe 
sexual freedom. 
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
This thesis would not exist in the fonn that it does (or indeed at all!) without the help of a 
number of good friends, supportive colleagues and my supervisors. I am particularly grateful 
for the advice that I have received from my chief supervisor, Professor Gregor McLennan. 
While Greg has been a demanding and exacting supervisor and critic, his support for the 
project, and of me, has been unstinting. Particularly in the final stages of the production of 
this thesis, Greg has responded to my drafts quickly and with sage advice. I am also grateful 
for the advice and encouragement I have received from Dr Alison Jones. Alison's 
supervision, from a distance, has provided me with much needed and valuable suggestions 
on the analysis of the interview material included in the thesis. 
I am greatly indebted to the twenty-four men and women who generously shared with me 
aspects of their lives. Thanks must also go to Steve Maharey and Professor Graeme Fraser, 
who provided support during an early stage of the project. I would also like to thank Ruth 
Mountain for transcribing the interviews, and Heather Hodgetts for secretarial assistance. 
I have also benefitted from the New Zealand AIDS Foundation's library service, in particular 
Vern Keller who has responded to my many requests quickly. Also from the NZAF, Tony 
Hughes and Warren Lindberg have been helpful to me at various stages of the research. In 
addition, I have received valuable infonnation and assistance from Phil Parkinson in his role 
as curator of the Lesbian and Gay Archives of New Zealand. My heartfelt thanks as well to 
Lyn James who always helped me find a way through even when it seemed impossible. 
On a personal level I am greatly indebted to the love, support and practical assistance of a 
number of good friends. In particular Avril Bell, Christine Cheyne, Nicola Annstrong, Karen 
Johnston and Suzanne Battleday have, in different ways, been there for me when I needed 
them My deepest thanks go to Marianne Tremaine who has kept on loving me through this 
process, even when it must have often felt rather unrewarding. My ability to finish the 
dissertation is in no small measure due to Marianne's practical and emotional support, given 
daily. I am also grateful to Marianne for her thorough proofing and editing of my final 
chapter drafts. 
My parents, Colleen and Kevin, my sister Denise and my brother Shaun are also richly 
deserving of thanks at this titre because although they must have wondered, they have never 
betrayed any sign of doubt that one day my thesis would be finished. 
I wish to dedicate this thesis to Ruairidh and Finn Battleday, who at seven and four years of 
age respectively, still have their sexual future ahead of them. While they already know how 
to love well, my hope for them is that their future will be one of safe sexual freedoms. 
SAFE SEXUAL FREEDOMS: 
A NEW NARRATIVE FOR AN AGE OF RISK 
SHORT TABLE OF CONTENTS 
Abstract n 
Acknowledgements ill 
Contents v 
Introduction 1 
Chapter 1 AIDS, Safe Sex and Sexual Liberation: Crisis and Critique 10 
Chapter 2 Sexual Liberation and its Discontents 46 
Chapter 3 Feminism and Sexual Liberation: A Contradiction in Tenns? 88 
Chapter 4 Saint Foucault Queers the Pitch 128 
Chapter 5 Risk, Safe Sex and the Power of Narrative Research 164 
Chapter 6 Risk and Freedom in Gay Sexual Relationships 181 
Chapter 7 Risk and Freedom in Women's Sexual Relationships 213 
Conclusion 247 
Methodological Appendix 252 
References 262 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
Abstract 
Acknowledgements 
Contents 
INTRODUCTION 
The Thesis Project 
Sexual Freedom: Values, Identity and Radical Humanism 
Thesis Outline 
11 
iii 
v 
1 
1 
3 
7 
1 AIDS, SAFE SEX AND SEXUAL LIBERATION: CRISIS AND CRITIQUE 10 
AIDS Crisis, AIDS Critique: Is this the End of Sexual Freedom? 11 
Of Plagues and Sexual Revolutions 
'Postmodem AIDS': 
Sexual Liberation as a Hindrance to Radical Sexual Politics 
Moral Sources for Radical Sexual Politics: Emancipation and Authenticity 
The Safe Sex Project: Narratives of Sexual Freedom in an Age of Risk 
The Gay Safe Sex Project: Troubling Identities 
Feminism and Safe Sex: Pennissive and/or Women-centred? 
Authenticity, Autonomy and Safe Sex 
2 SEXUAL LIBERATION AND ITS DISCONTENTS 
The Role of Narrative in Theories of Sexual Liberation 
Master Narratives, Difference and Pluralism: 
The Aporias of the Postmodem Critique 
Conceptual Narrativity in Theories 'of' and 'against' Sexual Liberation 
12 
17 
22 
27 
28 
34 
39 
46 
47 
47 
52 
Sexuality: Natural or Discursive? 54 
Reich: Orgasmic Energy, Sexual Repression and Character Structure 55 
Foucault: 'Sexuality' vs Bodies/Pleasures 61 
Body-reflexive Practices and Narrative Identity in Sexual Social Relations 67 
The Ethics of Sexual Freedom: Mutuality vs Practices of Freedom 71 
3 
Reich: Self-regulation and Mutuality 72 
Foucault: Practices of Freedom and an Aesthetics of Existence 75 
Radical Humanism and Sexual Autonomy: 
Values, Authenticity and Narrative Identity in Sexual Freedom 81 
FEMINISM AND SEXUAL LIBERATION: 
A CONTRADICTION IN TERMS? 88 
The Feminist Sex Debates: 
Competing Meanings of Authenticity, Difference and Autonomy 88 
Pleasure vs Danger, Pluralist vs Radical Feminism 88 
The Barnard Conference and its Aftermath 92 
The Heart of the Debates: Authenticity, Recognition and Sexual Autonomy 93 
The Politics of Orgasm: Seeking Liberated Sex 96 
A Feminist Sexual Revolution? 96 
The Politics of Orgasm: The Body and its Limits 98 
Sexual Freedom as Equality: Political and Ethical Dimensions 101 
Radical Feminism: Critiquing Heterosexuality, Eroticising Equality 103 
Sexual Liberation as Patriarchal Plot 103 
Sex, Power and Subjectivity 105 
'The Personal is Political' and Eroticising Equality 109 
Pluralist Feminism: Promoting Pleasures, Critiquing Cultural Feminism 115 
The Precarious Balancing Act Between Pleasure and Danger 115 
Sexuality as Relatively Autonomous and the Inescapability of Power 118 
Pluralist Politics and Ethics: Promising but Problematic 
Beyond Permissive Pleasures and Patriarchal Plots: 
Women's Sexual Authenticity and Autonomy in an Age of Risk 
4 SAINT FOUCAULT QUEERS THE PITCH 
Introduction 
What is the Queer Critique, and Why Now? 
The Aporias of a Queer Critique of Heteronormativity 
Homophobic Discourses, the Epistemology of the Closet 
and the HeterolHomo Binary 
The Critique of Halperin's Account of Homophobic Power 
Queer Politics and the Limits of Identity 
The Queer Critique of Identity 
The Empowerment of a Marginal Positionality: 
'A Little Manifesto in Defense of Queer Identities' 
Narrative Sexual Identities and the Politics of Recognition 
Queer Ethics: An Aesthetics of Existence 
A Queer Ascesis 
A Critique of Queer Ethics 
From Queer to Lived Experience 
5 RISK, SAFE SEX AND THE POWER OF NARRATIVE RESEARCH 
Risk and Narrative Identity 
Risk, Trust and Reflexivity 
Narrative: Identity, Action and Rationality 
Emplotment, Authenticity and Sexual Autonomy 
122 
125 
128 
128 
131 
135 
136 
140 
146 
147 
149 
151 
155 
156 
159 
162 
164 
165 
166 
169 
173 
Narrative Research and Interview Analysis 175 
"IV Risk Assessment and Safe Sex in the Lives of Sexually Active Young Adults 177 
6 RISK AND FREEDOM IN GAY SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS 
Risky and Safe Gay Sex: Questions of Identity and Strategy 
Vern 
181 
181 
183 
183 Personal and Sexual History 
Core Sexual Narrative: A Sexual Libertine Having Fun and Minimising Hann 185 
Risk Assessment: The Powers of Science and Unruly Desires 187 
Limits of the Libertarian Project and Scientific Knowledge 189 
Chris 190 
Personal and Sexual History � 90 
Core Sexual Narrative: Recovering from Betrayal and Longing for Intimacy 192 
Risk Assessment: Expert and Bodily Knowledge 193 
A Fateful Moment and the Loss of Innocence 194 
Graeme 196 
Personal and Sexual History 196 
Core Sexual Narrative: Being Safe, Relaxed and Responsible 198 
Risk Assessment: Relying on Expert Knowledge, Wanting to Trust 199 
Trusting in Experts and Intimate Others 201 
Bill 203 
Personal and Sexual History 203 
Core Sexual Narrative: Searching for a Partner and Having Fun 204 
Risk Assessment: Being Educated and A voiding Non-intimate Sex 206 
Balancing Fun and Responsibility 208 
Conclusion: Identity, Safe Sex and Sexual Freedom 20 
7 RISK AND FREEDOM IN WOMEN'S SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS 
Safe Heterosex? The Body and Trust 
Odette 
213 
2 13 
217 
2 17 Personal and Sexual History 
Core Sexual Narrative: 
Being Stuck in 'Pennanent' Untrustworthy Relationships 219 
Risk Assessment: Being Safe in Pennanent Relationships 221 
The Poverty of 'Permanence': Neither Secure Nor Safe 222 
Raewynne 223 
Personal and Sexual History 223 
Core Sexual Narrative: Seeking Reciprocal Sexual Intimacy 225 
Risk Assessment: Relying on the Test and a Responsible Partner 227 
Sexual Intimacy in the Context of Reciprocity: Rewarding but Risky 228 
Irene 228 
Pesonal and Sexual History 228 
Core Sexual Narrative: Repositioning Rebelliousness 231 
Risk Assessment: Becoming Responsible 233 
Responsibilising Rebelliousness: An Uncertain Future 234 
}(ate 235 
Personal and Sexual History 235 
Core Sexual Narrative: 
An Unassertive Sexual Rebel Seeks a Powerful Sexual Partner 237 
Risk Assessment: Being Careless 239 
Giving Up Responsibility 240 
Conclusion:  Permissiveness and Safe Sexual Autonomy 242 
CONCLUSION 247 
METHODOLOGICAL ApPENDIX 
Constructing the Thesis Project 
Basis for Selecting Case Studies for Detailed Analysis 
The Interview Sample and Process 
Ethical Considerations 
Initial Interview Schedule 
Consent Form 
REFERENCES 
252 
252 
253 
254 
255 
255 
262 
263