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How do cultural factors influence male preferences for anal sex?
Executive summary
Cultural factors shape male preferences for anal sex through norms about masculinity, sexual role identities (top/bottom/versatile), acculturation, and racialized stereotypes; several studies find both cross-cultural patterns and culture-specific influences (e.g., machismo linking penetrative sex to masculinity) [1] [2]. Evidence is mixed: some large-sample studies report that preferences for insertive/receptive/versatile roles appear across cultures (no clear association with acculturation or country of birth), while other work documents cultural pressures and stereotypes that push particular groups toward “top” or “bottom” identities [3] [4].
1. Masculinity scripts and sexual roles: who “must” be the penetrator?
Scholars link cultural constructions of masculinity to anal-sex positioning: in many contexts the insertive partner (Top) is coded as masculine and the receptive partner (Bottom) as feminine, and those gendered scripts influence self-labeling and preferences among men who have sex with men (MSM) [1] [5]. The literature describes how cultural narratives — including machismo in some Hispanic contexts — can normalize penetrative anal sex as a marker of male sexual dominance, shaping expectations about who will seek or avoid receptive roles [2].
2. Acculturation: change with migration, but not uniformly for men
Acculturation to mainstream cultures sometimes increases participation in particular sexual practices, but the effect varies by gender and act. For example, research in Hispanic samples found that higher acculturation correlated with oral sex for both sexes, and with anal sex for women but not consistently for men — indicating that migration and cultural change do not produce uniform shifts in men’s anal-sex preferences [6]. A study of Latino immigrant MSM in the U.S. found that U.S. acculturation, country of birth, and same-race partnering were not associated with class membership for insertive/receptive/versatile profiles, suggesting stable preferences across those cultural dimensions in that sample [3].
3. Racialized stereotypes and partner selection: cultural beliefs mapped onto roles
Research argues that racialized sexual stereotypes intersect with role expectations — for instance, stereotypes that associate Black men with masculinity and Tops, and Asian men with femininity and Bottoms — and that these beliefs operate at cultural, interpersonal, and intrapersonal levels to shape perceived and reported preferences [5]. These stereotype-driven expectations affect how men present themselves on hookup platforms, how they are perceived by others, and how they participate in role identity formation [5].
4. Identity, negotiation, and context: roles aren’t immutable
Sexual role identities (Top/Bottom/Versatile) generally map onto preferred positions but are also negotiated with partners, influenced by relationship type, HIV status, and situational factors; some men avoid labels or shift roles depending on context [1]. Intervention-focused research recommends offering hybrid or noncategorical role options in sexual-health efforts because preferences and behaviors vary within cultural realities and social climates [1].
5. Public health implications: cultural tailoring matters
Because cultural factors shape practices and perceived risks, researchers urge culturally and linguistically appropriate sexual-health messaging; one study found higher cultural identification among Hispanic MSM associated with increased unprotected anal intercourse, indicating cultural variables can affect HIV risk behaviors and thus the need for tailored prevention [2] [7]. Public-health researchers recommend integrating cultural beliefs about roles, partner types, and stigma into education and prevention programs [1].
6. Where the evidence is contested or thin
Some large-sample analyses report little or no association between cultural variables (acculturation, country of birth) and role-class membership [3], while other lines of work document clear cultural pressures and stereotypes influencing power dynamics and role expectations [4] [5]. Available sources do not mention exhaustive global prevalence differences outside the cited regional and immigrant samples; cross-national claims about which nations “prefer” anal sex rely on surveys and media reporting not included among the core academic sources here (not found in current reporting).
7. Bottom line for readers and researchers
Cultural frameworks (masculinity ideals, acculturation, racialized stereotypes, local norms) influence male preferences for anal sex, but influences are complex and sometimes contradictory in the empirical record: some preferences appear robust across cultures while other patterns are clearly shaped by local gender scripts and stigma [1] [3] [5]. Future research and health programs should treat role preference as both personally meaningful and socially conditioned, and should avoid simplistic cultural stereotypes while incorporating culturally specific risks and supports [2] [1].