[The emergence and institutionalization of sexology in Portugal: processes, actors, and specificities]. / Emergência e institucionalização da sexologia em Portugal: processos, atores e especificidades.

Based on Bourdieu's field theory, this article analyzes the emergence and institutionalization of sexology as a science and profession in Portugal, identifying relevant institutions, actors, and professional practices and discussing its relations and specificities. The analysis begins by contextualizing the emergence of modern Western sexology in order to comprehend the Portuguese case in the international sexology context. The second section describes the social, cultural, and institutional factors that have driven the professionalization of sexology. The third section describes the emergence of Portuguese sexology and its principal historical milestones, institutions, and actors. Finally, the article discusses some implications of this process for the role of sexology as a science and profession. The study reveals the dynamics of national and international processes in the field, in the transition from a holistic perspective of sexology to the hegemony of sexual medicine, and sheds light on its mechanisms of legitimation as a transdisciplinary science of sexuality, suggesting future perspectives.

Emergência e institucionalização da sexologia em Portugal: processos, atores e especificidades / The emergence and institutionalization of sexology in Portugal: processes, actors, and specificities / Emergencia e institucionalización de la sexología en Portugal: procesos, actores y especificidades

Resumo: Com base na teoria dos campos de Bourdieu, este artigo analisa a emergência e a institucionalização da sexologia enquanto ciência e profissão em Portugal, identificando instituições, atores e práticas profissionais, e discutindo as suas relações e especificidades. Começa por contextualizar o surgimento da sexologia moderna ocidental para uma compreensão do caso português no contexto sexológico internacional. Numa segunda parte, descreve os fatores de natureza social, cultural e institucional que têm impulsionado a profissionalização da sexologia. Na terceira, descreve a emergência da sexologia portuguesa e os seus principais marcos históricos, instituições e atores em jogo. Por fim, discute algumas implicações desse processo para o papel da sexologia como ciência e profissão. Esta pesquisa revela as dinâmicas entre processos nacionais e internacionais no campo, na transição de uma perspectiva holística da sexologia para a hegemonia da medicina sexual, e clarifica os seus mecanismos de legitimação como ciência transdisciplinar da sexualidade, sugerindo perspectivas futuras.

Abstract: Based on Bourdieu's field theory, this article analyzes the emergence and institutionalization of sexology as a science and profession in Portugal, identifying relevant institutions, actors, and professional practices and discussing its relations and specificities. The analysis begins by contextualizing the emergence of modern Western sexology in order to comprehend the Portuguese case in the international sexology context. The second section describes the social, cultural, and institutional factors that have driven the professionalization of sexology. The third section describes the emergence of Portuguese sexology and its principal historical milestones, institutions, and actors. Finally, the article discusses some implications of this process for the role of sexology as a science and profession. The study reveals the dynamics of national and international processes in the field, in the transition from a holistic perspective of sexology to the hegemony of sexual medicine, and sheds light on its mechanisms of legitimation as a transdisciplinary science of sexuality, suggesting future perspectives.

Resumen: En base a la teoría de los campos de Bourdieu, este artículo analiza la emergencia y la institucionalización de la sexología como ciencia y profesión en Portugal, identificando instituciones, actores y prácticas profesionales, y discutiendo sus relaciones y especificidades. Comienza por contextualizar el surgimiento de la sexología moderna occidental para una comprensión del caso portugués en el contexto sexológico internacional. En una segunda parte, se describen los factores de naturaleza social, cultural e institucional que han impulsado la profesionalización de la sexología. En la tercera parte, se describe la emergencia de la sexología portuguesa y sus principales marcos históricos, instituciones, y actores en juego. Finalmente, discute algunas implicaciones de este proceso para el papel de la sexología como ciencia y profesión. Esta investigación revela las dinámicas entre procesos nacionales e internacionales en el campo, en la transición de una perspectiva holística de la sexología para la hegemonía de la medicina sexual, y clarifica sus mecanismos de legitimización como ciencia transdisciplinaria de la sexualidad, sugiriendo perspectivas futuras.

The price of pulchritude, the cost of concupiscence: how to have sex in late modernity.

Research and scholarship on sexuality has grown exponentially over the last 60 years; but what is this 'sexuality' that so fascinates us. During those 60 years, three academic traditions or paradigms have emerged and evolved to provide that main ways we understand sexuality. These are: (1) sexology; (2) sex research; and (3) critical sexuality studies. These paradigms do not always agree; at times, they are incommensurable in the picture of sexuality they paint. However, they each affect how sexuality is researched and written about, and how it is understood in the popular imagination. After discussing these paradigms, attention is focused on the contemporary challenges facing the third paradigm: critical sexuality studies. The contribution of sexology and sex research to these challenges is noted. Three key issues are discussed: the body; how we commonly understand sexuality; and the commodification of sexuality in late modernity.

Métodos anticonceptivos utilizados por población inmigrante y condicionantes que influyen en su elección en un área sanitaria de Zaragoza / Contraceptive methods used by immigrant populations and conditions that influence the choice in a health area in Zaragoza

Introducción. En los últimos años el porcentaje de mujeres inmigrantes ha aumentado provocando el surgimiento de necesidades específicas referentes a su salud sexual y reproductiva. El objetivo fue conocer los métodos anticonceptivos utilizados por ellas y los condicionantes que influyen en su elección. Estimar como indicadores de alerta: uso de píldora poscoital y prevalencia de abortos. Material y métodos. Estudio descriptivo transversal, mediante encuesta realizada en el primer trimestre del año 2011 en el Centro de Salud Delicias Sur (Zaragoza). La población diana fueron mujeres inmigrantes en edad fértil (15-45 años) que acudieron al centro, previo consentimiento informado. Muestreo accidental por cuotas. Resultados. La edad media fue de 29,35 años (IC al 95% = 27,95-30,75 años). El país de origen mayoritario fue Ecuador. Casi la mitad de las mujeres estaban solteras y trabajaban por cuenta ajena, y su nivel de instrucción era medio. La media de años de residencia en España fue de 5,68 años (IC al 95% = 4,99-6,37 años). Un 42% de las mujeres (IC al 95% = 32,62-51,83) no utilizaba ningún método anticonceptivo. El método más utilizado fue el preservativo, seguido de la píldora. Más de la mitad de las mujeres habían sido informadas en atención primaria. Un 32% (IC al 95% = 23,42-41,60) de ellas tenían un antecedente de aborto. Respecto al uso de la píldora poscoital (PPC), había recurrido a ella el 19,39% (IC al 95% = 12,46-28,10). Conclusiones. El 42% no utilizaba ningún método anticonceptivo y los indicadores de alerta sobre el fracaso de medidas preventivas en salud reproductiva son elevados (AU)

Background. The percentage of women immigrants in Spain has increased in these last years, resulting in the emergence of specific needs related to sexual and reproductive health. The objective of this article was to define the contraceptive methods used by immigrant women and the determining factors that influence their choice. To estimate the use of emergency post-coital contraception and prevalence of abortion. Methods. A descriptive cross-sectional study using a survey was carried out in the first quarter of 2011 at the "Centro de Salud Delicias Sur" in Zaragoza, Spain. The target population were immigrant women of childbearing age between 15 and 45 years who attended the clinic. Non probability sampling was used. Results. The mean age was 29.35 years (95% confidence interval (CI) = 27.95 to 30.75 years). The majority country of origin was Ecuador. Almost half the women were single and worked in paid employment. The educational level was considered as average. The average duration of residence in Spain was 5.68 years (95% CI = 4.99 to 6.37 years) and 42% of them (95% CI = 32.62 to 51.83) did not use any contraceptive method. The most used contraceptive method was the condom, followed by oral hormonal contraceptives. More than half of the women had been informed in Primary Care. Almost one third (32%) (95% CI = 23.42 to 41.60) of the women had a history of abortion. More than 19% of women (95% CI = 12.46 to 28.10) had used the emergency contraceptive method. Conclusion. Contraceptive methods were not used by 42% of women. The alert indicators on the failure of preventive measures in sexual health are still too high (AU)

Will medical solutions to sexual problems make sexological care and science obsolete?

Developments in the field of sexology indicate a trend toward the medicalization of sexual issues which is likely to continue over the next decades. With the introduction of new pharmacological treatments, the resulting shift from the biopsychosocial model to the disease model will become increasingly accepted and solidified over the next decade. Some of this shift may be beneficial in that the healthcare needs of the patient/client may at times be better served through this route. However, concern arises when such shifts are likely to limit the meaningful choices presented to the patient and to dampen support for basic psycho-behavioral and neurophysiological sexological investigation. Such developments challenge sexologists and sex therapists to define their treatment outcomes more clearly and, relying on stronger evidence-based studies, define the critical role of the therapist in achieving these outcomes.