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Interviewer: Okay, so thank you so much for meeting with me today. I’d really like to get this
interview started by you telling me a little bit about yourself growing up where you grew up what
your parents did for work what your homelife was like, that sort of stuff.
Interviewee: Okay. I’m on my third year here. Basically about my life I was born L.A. All of my
family is from Korea, my parents came from here when my brother was three months so I’m a first
gen student here and American born here and so just like this Korean American background just
like that immigrant life background and also kind of like growing up as an American.
I grew up in Lake Burbank area which is like So Cal and then I came here, but we basically grew up
in L.A. I feel like my parents it was just a tough family life in general. My parents separated when I
was 13 so I started high school when they separated.
My mom’s working as a medical assistant, my dad is a post office worker. I guess growing up has
been very unique for me. I feel like I also identify as gay so that experience especially being an
Asian American the world has been pretty tough, but I think through my identity I kind of learned a
lot about myself and just the world.
I think it relates to why I wanted to come in and participate was because I feel in terms of sex
education just growing up I feel like it was all independent just kind of to myself. I had to learn a lot
of things on my own including sexual education and even just my sexuality and just this whole gay
culture and how queer people interact.
Other stuff about me I love to dance I love to– on social media I love talking about social issues and
music and just culture. So yes that’s a little of me.
Interviewer: Thank you. So growing up your parents you said your dad– has your dad always
worked for the postal service?
Interviewee: Yes for the majority of his life.
Interviewer: And your mom as well is working as medical assistant?
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Interviewee: Yes they are both very different. My dad worked graveyard shifts mostly so he wasn’t
really around and then my mom works most of the day, so it’s like long hours too.
Interviewer: When did your parents come to the US?
Interviewee: They came I think probably around ’96. I think that’s when my brother was born and
they came three months after here.
Interviewer: Cool. I hear your parents divorced when you were 13-ish, but can you tell me what it
was like talking to them if at all about relationships or about sex? Did they ever give you the sex
talk? Anything related to that?
Interviewee: I [unintelligible – 00:03:42] then I feel like I received the school education. I think I
can remember 5th grade watching this video on puberty I guess. So I never really– I think growing
up the dynamic with my parents has never been we’re going to have this conversation just talking. I
don’t think they were worried about that.
I don’t think we ever had a sex talk. I don’t remember or recall a moment where I really was curious
to ask them about things like sex talk or even just life things I guess like school, so it’s never been
brought up I think and I think especially with being Korean I feel it’s not really a thing. It’s not
something you worry about maybe as a kid.
Maybe it’s just like once you’re an adult maybe they’ve feel wanting to but as a kid they didn’t feel
the need to bring it up also it’s not really a thing to talk about culturally.
Interviewer: So not even just about sex but what about just relationships?
Interviewee: No I really don’t think so. I think relationships was always my mom would always be
like, “I can’t wait for you to marry a girl a woman have a wife so I can have these kids” so it was
always more family orientated and kind of like, “Oh I can’t wait for you to meet the right person or
meet this girl”.
But I don’t think we ever went into detail about what is a relationship, what stands out in a good
healthy relationship versus what are the signs of a relationship. Obviously I feel like I never really
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learned what that was like or really had good role models for that because any family life growing
up was a little hard like fighting and just a lot of that.
I think in terms of relationships we barely talked about it, just kind of more family based and when
you grow up you’re going to have a family. Stuff like that but not really interpersonal.
Interviewer: So you mom there was no rules? Like you’re not allowed to date until you’re in high
school or you’re not allowed to do this until-?
Interviewee: I think that’s the thing. It’s like my parents are very unique because I feel like they
were trying to be really strict but there was a lot of issues that came up. Growing up my brother
was– I think a part of parenting for them was whether they wanted to hit us if we were
misbehaving.
I think after a certain point they realized it was causing so much trouble between my older brother
and so growing up like middle school high school I feel like there were never rules set down
because we were always just– we didn’t know how to communicate what we were doing. We’d just
say we’re going to go out and hang out with friends. We’re going to go out and do this.
So that was my only way of telling them when I’m doing something and so it was never like– I don’t
think we ever had that conversation about you can’t do this when you go out or you can’t to this
time. They would always be mad and come home early come home on time. They would be
stressing about that.
But like I said dating has never been a conver– I think they don’t really think like at middle school or
high school you would think about dating or want to date. It was even harder for me because I
never wanted to date girls. I think being in the closest has forced me, made me build so many
habits of I don’t want to talk to my parents or my family about certain thing and I’m going to keep
this kind of boundary. It’s kind of like that, so yes.
Interviewer: Are you still in the closet to your family?
Interviewee: No actually when I was 16 my junior year of high school I was dating my first
boyfriend and then my mom snuck up on me. She really thought I was lying and sneaking out but
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then she saw me holding hands with him. But I think growing up both my brother and my mom was
very suspicious and very– it was kind of obvious.
I wasn’t trying to hide; I think they just heard from other people different rumors and just word got
around a little bit. My mom was always just like, “oh I don’t want to believe it. I just don’t want to
think about it” but my brother growing up he’s like older than middle school, he always just kind of
knew.
So my coming out experience was never I told them or wanted to, they just found out. So that is
how it happened.
Interviewer: Did that change do you think? Do you think your mom would have had a sexual
relationship talk with you had you had that revelation not have happened or-?
Interviewee: No, my situation I think is more interesting because I think she rather ignore issues. I
think she feels really uncomfortable with the sex talk now after realizing I don’t like I am gay
because she has very conservative and very, I would say ignorant views on what gay sex is, and so
she thinks she doesn’t want to think of me having sex.
I don’t even think she knows a lot about gay sex in general too or just relationships in general and
stuff like. So she never really brought it up to me or wanted to talk to me about it I think.
Interviewer: Then if you think about your relationship with your parents now would you say that
you’re more or less able to talk to them about sex and relationships?
Interviewee: I think in the past year [unintelligible – 00:10:06] with my mom. I think we’re still
building a relationship. It’s the little things like I feel like I was dating a partner last year at the time
and I never thought I would ever tell her. But it was earlier recent, maybe a few months ago I told
her I was dating him. I was dating an black dude so it was like a whole big thing.
But she didn’t seem to care much but now I feel like I’m more comfortable telling her where I’m at in
my life that I think it’s a language barrier too because I’m not so fluent and [unintelligible 00:10:41] speak it. I think when the time comes maybe there will be a point where we can talk
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about relationships. I think I’m excited for that because I’m still learning Korean and all of these
things.
But for now I think just our relationship dynamic and me a little language barrier I don’t think I’m
talking to her a lot about now about relationships or stuff like that. But I think it will come in later for
sure.
Interviewer: Then what about with your dad or with your brother?
Interviewee: My dad I think we don’t talk often enough to really go into it. I think we never really did
talk about any relationship or the sex talk. My brother I feel it was just very small talk about my sex
life and hooking up. I think in those talks I wasn’t able to– I think he’s– I don’t know. I don’t think he
has the right idea about gay sex too.
So it’s always like I don’t talk too much about these things.
Interviewer: It’s not really a topic of conversation?
Interviewee: Yes.
Interviewer: Okay. I know a little bit now more about your family dynamic but can you think about
when you are growing up your friend group, did you and your friends talk about sex and
relationships when you were younger?
Interviewee: Kind of yes. I think, I feel like middle school not really. I think high school. I had mostly
female friends, like girlfriends, so I feel like it was more who we were liking and who we wanted to
date and who we were into. But I do remember having friends like [unintelligible – 00:12:45] sex
stories and talk about.
I think it was purely normal. I don’t think it was deeper more like intelligent talks about relationships
but I feel like any time just being my close friends we were able to comfortable with sex stories or
that. But I don’t think we had an open talk about what happens when we have sex or if we like sex
or not. Just stuff like that.
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Interviewer: So there were no questions like has this every happened to you or oh this weird thing
happened when I was hooking up with somebody or just whatever. I’m just interested in information
seeking, where would you go to figure that out in our friend group?
Interviewee: In my friend group. I think sometimes if I’m every curious then I’ll maybe ask maybe
one friend but I think within a friend group we would have a group. One on one, not even one on
one just like random curious like, “Hey like–” but I also think whenever I was curious I would figure
it out online.
So never just ask a friend because they would know right away or simply I thought so. I always
thought I was a more sexual friend in my friend group and my friends wholesome so it was a little
different.
Interviewer: What do you mean you were the more sexual person?
Interviewee: I feel like, I don’t know, I was more open to hooking up or just I guess I thought it was
cool to talk about sex or just be like oh I did this and that and I was out there but I think that was a
thing. Just being in high school was never a big thing for us. I think some high school friends was
the thing. I think there were definitely the popular girls.
There were definitely high school groups where I felt when I those spaces they would be very open
to who fucked who and who did that. I remember that but in my personal friend group I don’t think
so. I would have maybe just quiet friends or cheer friends. They would be very open about it; they
would just describe what happened.
I think that is how I may be learned more about sexuality in that sense, maybe a more hookup
culture.
Interviewer: Can you tell me a little bit about the school you attended during high school? Describe
it for me.
Interviewee: I attend John Myer Middle School and Burbank High School. Those two schools are
like– I feel like they use those schools a lot for tv productions. If you see Victorious the outside
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building is out high school and they film a lot. So our school I feel like it’s in the suburbs of L.A. and
you find a lot of people in media or entertainment or in the arts.
So there is a lot of artsy people there I feel like. But it’s very much like a white suburban
neighborhood so I think you get that very cliché high school tv vibe where you kind of get the
popular people and I feel like the popular people were more– there was like a presence of hookup
culture versus people who just think about school.
But there was also a culture of we’re going to study hard and go to college. But my school were half
white, mostly Armenian. There is group of people there. Less not so minority but I’d also say I think
it was just a popularity thing, like very much if you were in football you were the thing. So that would
be how I would explain my high school.
Interviewer: How big was your high school?
Interviewee: We had about over 3,000 so each, my class was about 660.
Interviewer: Was it middle class high SCS?
Interviewee: Yes very comfortable middle class even some high class, very middle class. There
were not a lot of minorities there and Burbank is it’s like a very uphill downhill so a lot of them live in
Burbank Hills or Upper Hills with nice houses and all of that. So very suburban and very not nature.
Interviewer: Then when you think about how schools or how your school in particular treated sex
and relationships on campus did they have any policies in place or did they-?
Interviewee: Yes. I think my school district are really frigging ridiculous especially with the girls and
the women with the dress code bullshit. You can’t wear crop tops or straps. I think that was so
stupid but I feel like the school polices women especially on what how– especially they were really
much policing what goes on or what they just based on-I don’t know really know how to explain it but I think the policing of women’s bodies with these dress
codes was so wrong and I felt it made women feel like I have to be worried about my body. I feel
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like I so dumb but in terms of teaching behavior like monetary stuff I think they were pretty strict on
you can’t openly do this.
In terms like PDA it’s pretty normal. I don’t think high schools, my district in general do a good job of
trying to support the students in any way so I feel like what you come to UCSB you have so many
resources promoted to you, use mental resources, we have sexual heath, we have care and all of
these things.
I feel like they didn’t do a good job of take care of yourself and if your curious about sex let’s talk.
Stuff like that I feel they could do a lot better.
Interviewer: Would you say that your school felt responsible for teaching its students about sex
and relationships, like sex ed?
Interviewee: I don’t think so. I think they felt like we have to just fulfil any requirement given by the
policy or whatever is written because they really should to more. They really need to teach, have
workshops or just kind of like– I remember during my high school they were spending $1,000 on
this new California kind of a state test. I don’t know what it-It was based on– they were just building this new core curriculum; it was so dumb I felt they should
have spent way more time on more health related stuff or just college preparation stuff. And there
were a lot of sexual assault cases like the district itself was hiding behind their back or just very just
like a lot of corruptness I guess in that way.
I remember the high school volleyball coach got fired or banned from the school because he was
exchanging pictures with the girls volleyball team. When that news came out they never did
anything to remind us about our safety about our health. That is what is happening and they were
just try your best to hide it or just kind of like-So yes I don’t think they care about that kind of stuff. They just care about doing their job.
Interviewer: Can you tell me what you remember about health class or if you had a sex education
class or component?
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Interviewee: Yes I remember to graduate in ninth grade you required to take a health class. In
eight grade going from John Myer to Burbank what they usually try to– what was a real option was
taking health over the summer at a charter school. That is what I did or take it online and pay. I
think the mentality was especially for me was I don’t want to take health I’d rather take do dance or
do another thing when I don’t need to take health.
It was just like a lot of people treated us like just like random health you need to do it. So I took my
health class over the summer and it was just random workbooks. Just quick and very easy and just
BS get the credits and go class.
But I do remember a close friend being in my health class and they did have– I wouldn’t personally
know because I wasn’t in the class but they would have a week maybe or a few days on sex talk
and they were definitely I think very much maybe a chapter on sexual health but I don’t know. I think
if they want to improve it they should be teaching it every year or right before you go to college like
senior year especially.
Interviewer: So the only exposure that you got to sex education was over a summer course that
was not related to the actual high school you attended? Is that correct?
Interviewee: Yes it was a charter school that offered credit for the high school degree or diploma. I
think that was the only source in high school that you were able to learn. But that was literally just
maybe a month of you in twice a week to just turn in your work, do a small really easy test and just
head out. That was one option but then again a lot of kids I think had health classes too, I’m not so
sure.
But then again I feel that if people know that then they should– I don’t know there is so much lack of
information.
Interviewer: Do you think that should have been an option for you to be able to take that quick and
dirty health class?
Interviewee: Maybe now and before. I would say I guess so yes just because it depends, I feel like
if they really want to take– I feel like know because we already know it’s like they don’t take it so
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seriously then yes. They should be able to give the option away because in most cases one class
could have been another class for most students and that is a lot of people I feel like in high school
they just don’t really care.
I don’t think it’s a bad choice because I feel like offer students more option and take other classes
they are interested in. I think if they wanted to take it seriously then they should just make the
curriculum better. So yes.
Interviewer: Okay. Can you tell me if you were to design a sex ed class today what would look like
a really good sex ed class?
Interviewee: In a high school setting? I feel like maybe, I feel like it just needs to be branded and it
needs to be interdisciplinary, it can’t be just specifically sex education. I feel that is just a part of
health in general. So maybe I think psychology should be required for high school diplomas. I took
AP Psych and I think AP Psych teaches you about sexual health too, you learn and lot.
The AP Psych teacher was very passionate about everything. He was really that one resource you
can just open up to, so I think a curriculum would have to be like a psychology class where you
have one part of it would be just sexual ed and it wouldn’t just be like to the hetero normative
people, it really needs to focus on transsexual health and queer sexual health.
I didn’t get that; it is very different from normal sexual health. That would definitely be there but I
think it would be the part of this curriculum like positive psychology learning about your mental
health as well and just substance abuse needs to be talked about more too if they were to make a
class about it. There would be this roll around a clock I think.
Interviewer: Can you tell me topically some key things that you would want it to include? I hear
substance abuse I heard sexuality and sexual orientation and consent.
Interviewee: Consent for sure. The don’t teach that, I feel like any offer of sexual health or sexual
education yes I think this whole assault. I feel like sexual assault was very new to me coming to
school. I think you notice if you are familiar but I think this new curriculum needs to focus really on-It needs to teach men more of consent.
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Really just focus on men and it just needs maybe self-defense in that case. So just I guess more
focus on sexual health but I think more– I don’t know if we need more queer sex education because
I think demographically there is very little, much less, queer people in spaces like this school.
But I think it was also focused on maybe mental health. I think sex can be really complex. I feel like
it can cause a lot of issues too so maybe just like stuff like self-esteem and self-worth I feel can be
really good topics when you are talking about sex. I think it would help a lot of people with figuring
out what their needs are when they are having sex or wanting to it and what they are trying to get
out of it.
Just understanding interpersonally what is happening. Because I feel like if kids nowadays would
stop or change this whole hookup culture and made it a more mature maybe more healthy was I
guess that would be cool to see. It’s not just about having fun doing whatever. Of course have fun
and do whatever. I feel like meet the right people.
Have fun with people who won’t– I don’t know because– have the right people who you can
connect with not just for not physical attention because that will help you in the long run, so just like
that.
Interviewer: Thank you. I have a couple of topics that I’m wondering if you ever received education
on when you think about to that summer class that you took. Reproductive health and puberty.
Interviewee: Yes.
Interviewer: Anatomy.
Interviewee: Yes, I think yes. I think more than the regular freshman year health class, so yes.
Interviewer: Contraception.
Interviewee: Not really.
Interviewer: And contraceptives?
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Interviewer: Like pregnancy.
Interviewee: A little bit.
Interviewer: What about contraceptives like condoms, female condoms?
Interviewee: Not so much, not a lot.
Interviewer: What do you remember learning?
Interviewee: I don’t think they really explain when condoms do. I think they really just tell you to
use condoms. Yes I don’t think they even teach you– I think they just tell you what a condom is and
what it is supposed to do and that you are encouraged to use it but I don’t think they’re really
teaching how to put one on or the risk of it ripping or the necessity to use it if you are trying to be
safe.
I feel like it should be taught as a necessity not so like encouraged so stuff like that.
Interviewer: What about STIs?
Interviewee: I don’t remember learning anything.
Interviewer: Consent boundaries?
Interviewee: No.
Interviewer: Sexuality? Sexual identity sexual orientation?
Interviewee: No.
Interviewer: Okay. Masturbation, sexual pleasure?
Interviewee: A little. They explained masturbation but pleasure not really no. That is something I
think they could focus more on sexual pleasure for sure, what to do with it.
Interviewer: Then what about sexual violence or a healthy relationship?
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Interviewee: I don’t think so no.
Interviewer: Okay. On a scale from one to 10 how would you rank the sex education that you
received?
Interviewee: A two.
Interviewer: A two? Can you tell me why?
Interviewee: I think it’s not only this bad in general I think it’s just not enough its very inadequate in
general very outdated very apathetic kind of education. Like they don’t really give a shit, but I think
it’s also because I rated it two because it’s not inclusive, it is not– because I think that most people
who are more at sexual health risk are queers and trans people.
It’s just a fact, they are way more at risk of STIs and all of these things so it’s like why are we not
educating this group of people who are putting themselves at risk. I think it’s just very frustrating
because I think this is really the key to help so much of sexual assault and violence and even
unwanted things like that.
It would really solve, not solve, but really contribute to so much positive impact for everyone. Not
just like women, it’s for me too. Men I feel really need to work on some issues within sexual health
education.
Interviewer: What kind of issues?
Interviewee: For men?
Interviewer: Yes.
Interviewee: I feel like men don’t really talk about their mental health and I think a lot of violence
stems from their trauma and they are not really talking about their trauma. I don’t know, just to be
really vulnerable I feel like I heard recently my brother was assaulted or molested and that was
really hard.
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Or it was really weird, it just felt like it makes so much sense but it’s kind of hard to really see. I feel
like it’s just so unheard of I feel like that really does happen often within men I guess. I don’t know. I
feel like it’s not really talked about and right now we’re really focused on women’s health and really
women’s violence.
But I think there is also a lot of men’s violence happening too that we don’t really focus on, So yes.
Interviewer: Okay. Thank you. I’m hearing that you received sex education for a summer and then
you also had kind of like the puberty talk in 8th grade, is that what you said? Like a class?
Interviewee: Probably 5th grade.
Interviewer: 5th grade, okay.
Interviewee: I do remember in 8th grade they show you a video one day they show you a video of
what pregnancy looks like or how we reproduce. It was a reproduction unit so that is seventh eighth
that is like middle school when you learn life science. So you do learn reproduction that way but you
don’t learn a lot about health, you learn about reproduction, you watch a video of someone growing
a baby and all of that stuff. So that was kind of like, “Whoa”.
Interviewer: Then you didn’t receive very much at home, it doesn’t sound like. Then you did
mention a little bit about online searching for information or what have you. Can you tell me a little
bit more about the sorts of things you looked up and that can be anything like magazines it could
I’ve heard fan fiction I’ve heard pornography I’ve heard WebMD? What sort of things were you
accessing to learn about sex relationship sexuality?
Interviewee: For me it was porn. I think what got me pretty curious I feel like I remember so vividly.
I was maybe nine or 10 so kind of a young age I guess but I curious with sex because I used to
watch world wrestling entertainment, WWE, and I don’t know why I remember this.
One of them was edge or something, they were just having sex on the frigging wrestling thing, they
just had a bed out and they were just doing– I don’t know, I just like saw that, so I kept watching
that. I would find it online because it was, “Whoa” to me and just very interesting. I think after that
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then I started to really like– I saw a lot of kissing through just searching, kissing was a lot of
exposure and I think it led me into finding my first gay porn on YouTube.
Eventually I think what happens is I felt really guilty or maybe just oh shit this is so explicit I can’t.
But then you just keep reaching that limit and you just keep going more. So it was YouTube
watching a little bit of soft porn a lot of nakedness and then I guess by middle school 12 13 I pretty
much watched a whole porn video and I was like, “Oh wow”.
So I think I just learned through that way. I can’t really remember how much I was curious about
certain things like what happens with sex. Especially with the gay stuff I didn’t really understand top
and bottom until I just saw it. But I’d say that’s how I got exposed to a lot of things in that way.
I feel like I was very much I love watching tv I was very much watching tv all of the time. There were
always different shows that showed different ways of sex and relationships. I think that was also
another way.
Interviewer: Did you think looking back accessing porn to learn or to explore did you think that was
a good source of information for you?
Interviewee: Did I think?
Interviewer: Or do you think now?
Interviewee: I don’t think now but I do think before maybe I was– I don’t think you really think to
yourself this is exactly what sex should look like, but I think when you are watching it and when I
was young maybe I was like this is what it looks like, this is what it seems like. It mostly in bed, so I
think at the time I thought this was what sex is. But now I know for sure that’s really not. It can be
detrimental for you as well.
Interviewer: Detrimental how?
Interviewee: I don’t know, I just feel like personally I sometimes wish I wasn’t sexualized at a
younger age. I think I was very premature sexual being. I lost my virginity when I was 15, just
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because I was already watching porn and really interested in it. I think being gay I think it was just
really getting to me being in the closet, my brother still being in high school.
I think I grew up just really homophobic, somewhat homophobic with my brother so I just felt very
uncomfortable being myself in that sense. But I think once I started sophomore year my brother just
finished school so I was really ready to feel more free so I felt like I was becoming more sexual and
it wasn’t really freeing for me. I wasn’t making the safest choices during that time.
Interviewer: I’m going to ask a little bit more, probe a little bit more about your early sexual
experiences. You shared that you lost your virginity when you were 15. That your mom saw you
holding hands with a boy. So when you think about some of these early sexual experiences and
you reflect back on them what do you remember, how do you feel about that?
Interviewee: I think relationship wise I had a very good first experience or I done pretty good
decent experience having a first relationship with a guy. I think I was able to learn how a
relationship felt and what my needs– It was the first time being exposed to that but the first sex-what was the question, I’m sorry.
Interviewer: It’s okay. Just thinking back on your first sexual experiences how do you feel about
them looking back?
Interviewee: I would say that I regret them. I think the feeling of regret is yes I wish it didn’t happen
but I also don’t regret and want to take back from it, go back in time. I don’t put myself in that feeling
of resentment but I also do feel like I really wish I made safer choices.
Interviewer: Can you tell me what you mean about safer choices?
Interviewee: I was on Grinder when I was 15 and Grinder is an adult app so I was pretty much just
lying to folks about being 18. The thing is I feel like these dudes– I think I looked so tiny little kid. I
very much looked like a high school kid and so I just wish I just wasn’t out there. I really wish I was
being healthier. I think that is when I started to really want to do sex all of the time.
I would say at one point I fell into an addiction of sex; I was really thinking about sex all of the time. I
just wanted to do it more and it was causing a lot of issues but it just felt like I could make safer
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choices. I just wish I wasn’t on Grinder. I always wanted to hook up with high school people but they
were like no open out or even visible queer people on campus at Burbank High.
I think that was the tough part too. There was really no one. Versus my rival school they have a lot
of queer folks which is kind of interesting. I really wish I didn’t do Grinder because again first I was
illegal vey illegal. But I don’t remember losing my virginity, I don’t remember the face of who.
So I was just very naive and I really wish someone had took care of that kid at that time. But I think
it taught me a lot too so not so regretful of it.
Interviewer: I want to tie this into the sex education realm. Do you think that if perhaps you had
more in-depth sex ed or something that would have maybe address more queer or trans or
something that was more inclusive I think that was the word that you used earlier; do you think that
would have impacted your earlier sexual experiences?
Interviewee: Yes. I don’t think it would change me. I don’t think it would substantially impact it but
absolutely yes I really think all queer kids would have benefited from learning about just learning the
thoughts to we need to be safer, just the risk of STDs and HIV and stuff like that.
But yes I wish I was taught earlier how to be responsible and how to be safe and also just learn
about sex in general, like the sexual pleasure. I feel I didn’t learn a lot, I had to learn that just by
having sex what sexual pleasure is and I felt there were moments when it was really unpleasant, it
was kind of hurting. It was really awful and I couldn’t get myself out of it.
Just the consenting for sure I feel like when I was on Grinder I was always pressured or need to do
something quickly, just maybe rush into things and I wish I didn’t do that. But I think in general it
maybe wouldn’t change my intentions. I feel like my intentions at the time were I want to hookup but
I think it would definitely help me done it safer.
I think they should teach more about intimacy about the queer life. I think that would have really
helped me. I watched this– one of my favorite shows Poles, one of my favorite moments in that like
was when they were talking about– when they are just like, oh– they were mocking this one dude
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oh he’s a hoe bottom hoe or something and he was like, “There is nothing wrong with a man
receiving intimacy”.
The whole show is about when you are rejected from your family or the world you are just looking
for that love or that intimacy you are trying to replace. So I think it would really support people if
they received that kind of education.
Interviewer: I feel like I have a pretty good understanding about pre-UCSBU. Where you grew up,
the sort of sex ed you received and I just want to fast forward to you as a college student. If you
could think back to maybe your first week or two here tell me what you remember?
Interviewee: Just being the frigging [crosstalk]. I was doing the most for sure. It was not a lot
different from right after high school. But I think I’d just got out of my first relationship with that guy
and then I was just like I’m free and I want to explore. I want to have a lot of fun. I think UCSB really
made me feel like I can have so much fun now.
It’s a fun ass school and do all of these thing. I just remember trying to hookup a lot people on
Grinder or just being drunk a little bit. I think that is when I first started smoking weed. So I was
being a little crazy with weed sometimes but the worst thing that probably could have happened I
remember maybe just that first quarter I had a guy, I was talking to some guy by the beach up to
three or 4 a.m.
Eventually I could have– I was making so many dumb choices I had him stay over in my top bunk
bed while my roommates are sleeping and actually I don’t know if I want to– I think its TMI. The
long story short I was having sex on top of the top bunk in the morning while my roommate was
sleeping on the bottom bunk. It was such a dumb thing I do.
Then he woke up, he saw and it really got messy. Just really bad consequence after that. But
eventually everything worked out real fun but I remember kind of being careless and just trying to
have fun.
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Interviewer: High school can be super different for some people and that transition to college can
be really difficult for some students for others not so much. But can you tell me maybe the hardest
thing that you’ve experienced since coming to UCSB? Or something you weren’t expecting.
Interviewee: I guess it’s more personal and unique to me but the overall hardest thing was I had
high hopes for UCSB, I was choosing it over Irvine and I remember getting into a really big
argument with my mom because I didn’t even tell her I registered to accept my offer and so I just
think I had high hopes for UCSB but it didn’t turn out pretty much anything I wanted it to be.
Interviewer: Why is that?
Interviewee: For many things. I feel like I haven’t been able to find my niche here, kind of my close
knit group of friends or just people, this is very personal I guess, I kind of like I don’t feel like I
belong in a lot of spaces here. Even if I try to find spaces I feel like I find the most I just feel like the
common thing which is mediocrity and I hate to say all of that to my friends but I just feel like a lot of
mediocrity when it comes to little things.
Especially with dance. There is only one dance team here and if I went to Irvine there would have
been so many dance teams, just like this whole dance world and I feel like I am so limited in my
expression here. It’s really just like everything, the food, the cost of living here, and just feeling
alone here.
It really just builds up into I’m not really happy here. This is not what I expected and just little things
like that. Just the nature of people here in general, there were three rape cases this quarter here
that they were so silent about. It is very upsetting but it’s like yes just little things.
Interviewer: What is one thing you wish you would have known before enrolling here?
Interviewee: Its very opinioned but I feel like one thing someone should have told me was just the
demographic here in general I think. I didn’t know it was less diverse than the other UCs. I would
arguably say this UC is the least diverse and I feel like that would have been important to me in
making my decision because I value my Asian identity. I wish someone– yes just that I guess.
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Interviewer: Okay. Then thinking back UCSB your first couple of weeks here thinking about
orientation do you think, and I’ve heard from many UC Santa Barbara students about the rape
cases and their overall I think displeasure in how the university has handled some of those things.
Do you feel like they tried to prep their student for a talk about consent or alcohol use or healthy
relationship or anything on that front?
Interviewee: Yes I think the common thing with schools it seems like they do their job. They do
their job because of the rules and policies set in place. But I don’t think they do a horrible job. They
can do better because I know they do this online consent training that you have to do right before
freshman year.
Then they make you come to gaucho something, just were every freshman has to sign up for this
one night of people explaining consent and alcohol drug use and all of that. But then again it’s all
just played out, it’s all just like, “Aha this is bullshit let’s just finish this quickly.” None of the guys
take it seriously, they are laughing and trying to make it cheesy and all of this stuff.
That is great and like I said its doing their job its fulfilling whatever they need to do but it’s not
helping. The school doesn’t give a fuck, they fucking didn’t say anything right the first time. I think if
they say they take it seriously then there would seriously be like they have to say this frat sig pi
raped three girls last year and it’s because you all– just really being more serious.
Because what we’re talking about it is serious and I feel it should be presented in a lighter or more
normal way, but not anymore. It’s happening and its very real. Enough with the bullshit just be
serious about it and just really force these kids to learn how to consent whether they like it or not
because its fucked up, it’s really fucked up.
Interviewer: Do you think there’s space for additional training or sex education or more consent
training? What does that space look like to make sure these kids are really getting it?
Interviewee: Can you repeat that? You mean additional training or what would that look like?
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Interviewer: Yes for you if we’re thinking about being solution oriented you said the school’s trying
to do their job. They’re ticking off the boxes but it doesn’t quite seem like you feel like they give a
shit. So how do you change that? What does a solution look like?
Interviewee: I think society and institutions are just afraid of deep real honestly. So don’t sugar, is
this the whole sugar coating thing and if you want to make it a real thing I know this will be a very
difficult thing one idea I might have is have survivors go on stage and talk to everyone.
That might be very hard and we want to respect everyone’s story and stuff like that. But it needs to
be we’re not sugar coating this shit to you; we need to tell you straight up. If you’re a woman, if you
are on this campus you have a chance of being assaulted and it pretty much might happen to you
and closest to you when it happens.
I even think it’s like they should change the conversation to serious and the nature of it. Make it
serious and be like it’s not about if it might happen it’s when it’s going to happen to you. It might not
happen to you personally but how are you going to reach out to support your friend when that
happens to your friend.
It is really just not sugar coating anything, making everyone comfortable the staff and the faculty
and the student comfortable with what they are doing. But know there are going to be better results
coming out of it. I think that’s what’s going to really see change I think.
I feel like I see it more– yes they do a bad job in general. I feel like there are a lot different ways. I
know that UCLA and Berkeley they’re forcing their dudes, their frat dudes, to read out some fucking
consent thing to parties. Even if that’s little it’s still doing something. I just feel like now it’s too late.
We’re done. I’m over it. We need to just be real.
Interviewer: Got to be real. I want to talk a little bit more about your social life here at UCSB. Can
you tell me a little bit about your social group and what a fun night out maybe looks like for you?
Interviewee: I’m pretty close to my roommate Quan, I’ve lived with him since freshman year. I
pretty much hang out with my friend group there. I’m in the Filipino over here so it’s just a lot of fun
activities like going to Ivy and partying and drinking. Its really just partying, there is nothing else you
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can really do here. But that is the social life just going out on weekends and just hanging out at
someone’s house. But recently it been more chilling just smoking or laid back.
Interviewer: When you think about these nights out going to the Ivy partying chilling smoking
whatever would you say that hooking up or thinking about hooking up is part of that process for
you?
Interviewee: Yes. I feel like sometimes it used to be an intention like I’m going to go hookup with
someone, I’m going to look for someone. But I quickly learned you don’t do that when you’re gay
here because everyone is really straight here. But when you go out I feel like it’s a natural thing,
always a possibility.
I probably might find someone but when you’re going out it more lets drink and lets have a turn. It’s
never just like– I think there is never– I think sometimes it’s like that but not really.
Interviewer: So when you are going out and thinking about hooking up does your getting ready
ritual look any different than if you were just chilling with Quan your roommate or whatever?
Interviewee: Not really. I think the goal of going out is to always look good and clean, don’t look
weird. Just look good and clean. I would say there is not really a different when trying to hookup
versus just going out. Just look good so that whatever happens you’re ready.
Interviewer: Can you tell me the last time that you can remember that you went out and had just a
really good time?
Interviewee: In Ivy specifically?
Interviewer: Just here in UCSB area.
Interviewee: I think I went out with one of my friends and we didn’t drink that much, we were
drinking seltzer just little things like that. It was just like two different parties. I think it was a few
weeks ago and because it was just mostly Sue and I talking not really just trying to dance a party or
go crazy. It was really we would sit down and just talk. That was really fun to just catch up and stuff.
So yes.
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Interviewer: So just a little bit of drinking and a little bit of talking and having fun?
Interviewee: Yes. I think I’m becoming more of that now. I feel like I’m over drinking 10 shots and
running going crazy.
Interviewer: What about a recent time when you went out and it was not so fun?
Interviewee: I’m going to say a not unpleasant but I would say it was not fun, it wasn’t the best
time. Because there was a danger party for the Filipino org and they try to make you drink as much
possible. By the middle of it I was already laying on– sitting here just yakking in a bag. It wasn’t like,
I’m dying. I already knew I was going to yak and I handled it pretty well.
I ended up my friend walking me over a few blocks to her place and just knocking up there. I don’t
like drinking. I would prefer to smoke weed over drinking. I do drink because you have to drink here
to socialize when you go out. But in general I don’t like yakking I don’t like drinking I don’t like
looking gross.
I remember that day some random ass dude was making out with me, what the heck, but I don’t
remember. But it wasn’t a horrible night or day. That is what I remember.
Interviewer: I just have a few more questions. Talked a little bit about socialization and your social
group here and we talked a little bit about sex but I want to talk about it a little bit more for the
success of our research it is extremely important to understand how sex and intimacy are working
here as UC Santa Barbara.
But before I get to those things I need to remind you of a few things. First any question you don’t
want to answer just tell me skip I’m happy to move on to whatever is next. Second we take really
seriously our obligations regarding confidentiality and that we are exempt from mandatory reporting.
I’m not a mandatory reporter.
Third not everyone is pursuing or has experienced sex here on campus and so we’re interested in
any sort of intimate relationship that goes beyond what you would consider friendship. Lastly I have
a list of resources that I’m giving every student at the end of these interviews just in case you’re
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curious and want to go see what’s out or if you want to go talk to somebody both on campus and in
the community.
Interviewee: Cool.
Interviewer: Okay. So could you tell me a little bit about what your sex and intimate life looks like
presently?
Interviewee: Sex and intimate life. It’s pretty not– I don’t think there is one existing right now. I just
got out of an almost a year relationship with a partner. From that relationship I haven’t been actively
looking for an intimate relationship. I was looking to hookup more often at the beginning of the
quarter.
But later I just kind of stopped and in the middle of the quarter it was a rough time and I feel like I
got really out of it. How do I explain this in the best– the best way I can explain it right now I don’t
have an intimate or a sex life. I have maybe one hookup partner up here. But overall I’m just pretty
satisfied with my sex and intimate life here.
That is one thing I don’t like about UCSB there is not a lot of queer– there are queer students here
on campus but they are not my favorite. I’d feel like the selection of guys in L.A. are way better. So I
remember these past years I’ve been going down to L.A. just to be at home in L.A. and just hookup
or whatever.
It’s been pretty lame. I’d say in both ways. Again I’m not looking for an intimate relationship. I feel
like I’m pretty somewhat comfortable.
Interviewer: Okay. When you think about hooking up or your hookup partner your current situation
what is it specifically that you’re looking for?
Interviewee: Right now I’m just in hookup and sex I’m just looking for the sexual pleasure really. I
do notice that I’ve become more I wish there was more connection in that sense. Especially with the
hookup partner now I feel like it’s very small talk and small worded like hang out come over this
that.
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But then its interesting because that one guy he’ll always be asking I want to sleep over can you
sleep over? It’s never like, “Hey how are you?” it’s just like, “Want to sleep over?”. So I got pretty
annoyed as heck over that. So right now I’m just looking for that sexual pleasure because I feel like
I don’t want to waste time looking for more intimacy or connection.
Interviewer: Okay so sexual pleasure is what you are looking for right now?
Interviewee: Yes.
Interviewer: Can you describe your best sexual or intimate experience that you’ve had since being
a student at UC Santa Barbara?
Interviewee: Best sexual experience.
Interviewer: Yes like what happened how did you meet.
Interviewee: Does it have to be here or just during my time here?
Interviewer: Just during your time here.
Interviewee: The best sexual experience. It wasn’t here, well my time here has been interesting
because I took a two quarter break last year during my second year so I’m a third year. I was in L.A.
and it was just like a hookup with two other guys at the same time so it was like a threesome
situation. That was a really crazy very new very good overall sex hookup experience.
Interviewer: Why would you say that it was good?
Interviewee: I found the two guys really attractive. I don’t know. I think the story was I hooked up
with one of them because he was visiting L.A. and he had a hotel really close to my house and it
was just up there. I really like hotel sex just personally because I just love the room and having the
whole room to yourself to do whatever.
I was just kind of excited because he was very attractive and it was very good sex and we had very
good features. I was on my way there and right before he messages me, “Oh are you down to do a
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threesome?” and then it was the same guy and he showed me a picture and it was the guy I was
already talking to just sexually wanting to hookup.
So then it was a little awkward but funny, he messaged you too. It’s kind of funny but then we all
agreed. I liked it because it didn’t feel like a normal– it was a really great hookup but it didn’t feel
like a random like let’s just clothes off. Because we were chilling and talked normally casually and it
was people I was familiar with.
I feel like I used to always think hooking up meant looking for that good sex and I could dig that. But
now recently I think my recent partner also taught me when hooking up especially in intimacy it’s
good to have at least somewhat of a connection when you have sex. It just makes it a lot better.
Interviewer: Cool. Thanks for sharing. Can you tell me then a recent bad hookup experience and
why you would have labeled it a bad experience?
Interviewee: I’ve had so many bad experiences.
Interviewer: Or just one that really sticks out in your mind? Maybe it doesn’t have to be the most
recent.
Interviewee: I would say in general my sex work can be very not good experiences. So that’s
jumble bumble groups all together it’s like one times whack. Any time during sex where it would just
be little things the whole touching or is using my body in some ways.
So that was never really positive. I think with the hookup the most recent one was one Latino guy
who was in L.A. and I went over and he already told me he came and sure he could do it again. But
I just remember he didn’t even ask me if I wanted to use a condom or initiated using a condom, he
just went for it and it was on a rate of one to 10 it was five out of 10 sex and just like, “Wow”.
I hate when I waste my time in a hotel. I really just showed up for no fucking reason or for you to
feel good and not reciprocated. It’s really just like when the guy just wants to cum, when the guy is
being used. It really needs to be reciprocated always and that’s what makes a good hookup for me.
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Or even if it’s just me then I’ll feel good. It’s just I hate spending Ubers or I hate spending time being
out there and then just leaving so fucking what the heck. So I’ve had a handful of time like that.
Interviewer: So then ideally if you are thinking about planning for a hookup or wanting sexual
pleasure or whatever what does the ideal situation look like for you?
Interviewee: I think my ideal hookup partner would really be someone really confident and not a
secure dude. I feel like when you meet up with hookup there is always this awkwardness
uncomfortably not normal for the first few times of course. But once you get comfortable you can
just be yourself.
I feel like the ideal night would be him coming over we are just smoking we are just chilling first
because usually hookups you just go for it right away and you try to go fast. These hookups would
be lasting something like 10 minutes and just so short.
So really for me it’s just having a long session and just really good features and long sessions and
just some guys really just do know how to pleasure their partner and be present and just I think
physically it’s important to show that you’re into it by sounds or just speaking.
Then after I feel if we’ve had fun ideally it wouldn’t be just a one-time thing, it would be like take a
break and just chill and build that connection. It doesn’t have to be strong, just small talk, just talking
and chilling. Then maybe however long. Whenever we’re done we’re done. It’s just a mutualness
where you feel so comfortable and when you feel so comfortable you can really explore your sex
and just really not hold back. So just that would be ideal.
Interviewer: When you think about having sex or hooking up are there any things that you are
worried about or thinking about?
Interviewee: Yes its mostly just catching STDs. That is always what I worry about because I’ve
already caught a few, I’ve already had STDs and had them treated a few times already, and
especially now because I’m learning the new waves of STDs and new strains of HIV and all of that
and it’s just really getting to me. It really bothers me. The whole prep thing also bothers me too so
yes.
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Interviewer: What do you mean bothers you?
Interviewee: About prep? I used to take it and now I have a huge skepticism of big pharma now,
it’s just like government. But [unintelligible – 01:13:47] is one of my favorite artists singer like
Grant Truvada and the corruptness of it so I just don’t trust it.
But when I’m in sex or hooking I think you just worry about a little bit of what they think of me
because I’m always just oh no and if they like it. I think I worry about I want everyone to enjoy it so
that’s one thing. But overall it really is just sexual risk like the STIs.
Interviewer: Okay. So my last question is just bringing it back to the sex education that you have
had throughout your life. Do you think it has impacted your abilities to navigate through some of
these experiences that you just shared with me or hindered your ability to navigate through some of
these experiences?
Interviewee: Yes I think the lack of proper sex education hindered me a lot. I think it contributed to
a lot of trauma or sexual issues I’ve had over the past few years. Like I said if we all knew about
more consent there would be less cases of sexual– I like to say sexual misconduct nowadays
because I feel like– I’ve been considerably sexually assaulted.
But it’s never been– I feel like whenever we have these conversations its do we need to report it?
Do you want to report it? It’s never been that serious but I consider sexual misconduct to be the
guy, you said no, but he keeps trying to fuck you. He’s still physically doing stuff to you when you
don’t want it or they are going beyond your boundaries.
I really feel like if I knew consent and I feel like I build a better mindset of how to control the sex or
the hookup in that situation it would have really helped me. The whole safer sex usage and if I
knew more about– if I knew at an earlier point I would more of wanted to use condoms. I would
have been more strict about using condoms and that would have made me less a risk for the
STIs I’ve had.
Even just sexual pleasure and just intimacy and those consent conversations I think would have
really helped me a lot when I’m making decision on sex because I feel like a lot of queer men or
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trans people they are really just looking for sex because they are really going through it and they
are really looking for– I think sex becomes an intimate thing.
I even remember just being in L.A. I was going through a lot in L.A. and I feel like I was very low
and during that low point I remember really believing thinking that I really just want to have sex
because I wasn’t in class or anything, I was working part time a few times a week so I’d just be at
home really miserable.
So much time with myself I felt like if I just hookup with someone I’m talking with someone I’m
meeting someone new, it was kind of sad. That is the extent I was going to. But like I say I really
feel like those kinds of topics would have helped build– really support people like me who have the
freedom to do whatever they want.
But right now we’re dealing with this whole drug epidemic within the gay community. We’re dealing
with all of these horrible things and it needs to start for when you’re a kid. That’s when you learn.
But just in general I think sexual ed will help the world everywhere in that way.
Interviewer: Thank you for sharing.
Interviewee: Yes of course.
Interviewer: Before I stop the recording I just wanted to check in and see if you feel like I should
have asked you something if I missed anything in our conversation today and then just open it up if
you had any questions for me.
Interviewee: I guess just in general is this an overall research and do you plan to present it in
somewhere or contribute or send it over? I don’t know. I can totally see how this can impact– I don’t
know what space but many spaces.
Interviewer: Yes so this is going to be the way that my school does it for a dissertation you have to
have three papers. All of my papers are hopefully going to be surrounding sexual violence sex
education in general and how I’m hoping that this sort of work will be used is to potentially inform
policy or practice either at the junior high, high school, even elementary school lever, or even at a
college level.
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I think there is such a diverse group of students who show up on a campus and some of them have
never had any sex education some of them have had abstinence only sex education some of them
have had really awesome sex ed and I think it’s making student show up on an uneven playing field
and when sexual assault is such a huge issue and we’re not seeing that comprehensive sex
education is actually protective against sexual assault.
There are a few studies that are just now coming out. I just really want to explore this idea about
education as an empowering component to be protective against sexual assault. So whether it’s at
a pre-college level or an at college level I would be super happy to implement something.
Interviewee: That is awesome. Cool.
Interviewer: Any other questions?
Interviewee: I think I’m good. Thank you.
Interviewer: Cool. I’m going to stop this recording then.
[01:20:13][END OF AUDIO]
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Person 1: Okay. So, begin would you please tell me a little bit about yourself? So, that could be
where you grew up, what your family life was like before coming to UCSD and what your parent’s
kind of do?
Person 2: Okay. Growing up…I grew up in Redlands which is like 30 minutes from Riverside and
let’s see…growing up my parents…my mom was a nurse and my dad’s a doctor.
Person 1: Okay. In your culture or your family’s culture, how are sex and relationships perceived?
Person 2: Like it’s kind of like…you don’t really talk about it, kind of thing.
Person 1: You don’t talk about it. How much did you talk to your family about sex or even
reproductive health and relationships?
Person 2: Very little.
Person 1: Very little. Do you talk to them more about sex now or is it even less now?
Person 2: It’s probably even less.
Person 1: Even less. Would you say there is any like atmosphere of sexual shame or more
openness?
Person 2: Here or?
Person 1: With your family?
Person 2: More shame.
Person 1: More shame. How about as it differs to like with your friends? Is there more of a sexual
shame or openness with your friends?
Person 2: There’s more openness.
Person 1: Openness…what about at…during high school, how was that?
Person 2: It was still open.
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Person 1: Still pretty open. Okay. How about…we’re going to talk about your pre-college sex
education, so this would be elementary school, junior school, high school. So, tell me a little bit
about the school you attended. Like the high school, was it public or private?
Person 2: It was a public high school.
Person 1: Was it co-ed?
Person 2: Co-ed, yes.
Person 1: Okay. Did you…were you partaking in extra curricula activities and if so, like what type of
activities?
Person 2: So, like clubs and stuff? Okay so…
Person 1: Or sports?
Person 2: I was on the basketball team for three years. I was in a couple volunteering clubs too.
Person 1: Okay. Was your school responsible for providing sex education?
Person 2: They did. Yes, I think it was mandatory.
Person 1: Okay. And so, you did receive sex ed while being in high school?
Person 2: Yes.
Person 1: Okay. When was the first time you remember receiving sex ed, so maybe it wasn’t in
high school?
Person 2: I’d say 6th grade.
Person 1: 6th grade. Who taught you?
Person 2: It was in our PE class. They pulled us…they like pulled us all together like for a month
and just talked about different various topics.
2
File name: Interview 2
Person 1: Okay. So, that was 6th grade you said?
Person 2: Yes, about six.
Person 1: And do you think it was more formal or informal, how it was presented?
Person 2: It was formal. They had like…a nice presentation, like it was a PowerPoint.
Person 1: Okay. Was it ever split by gender or multiple sessions?
Person 2: It was over a month, so it was almost every day actually.
Person 1: Cool, okay.
Person 2: It was like a health class and it was both genders.
Person 1: Both genders. How many times do you remember receiving sex ed before coming to
college?
Person 2: I’d say…I took a 9th grade class, like we had to. It was forced. So, I don’t know if that
counts as like one.
Person 1: It does, sure.
Person 2: Okay. And 6th, 7th and 8th, we had to do that month program.
Person 1: Okay. Can you tell me about the first things you remember learning about in the sex ed,
the types of topics maybe you talked about?
Person 2: First it was like the body changing, that was like definitely the biggest one. And like the
reproductive system, start working at that time.
Person 1: Okay. Did you guys ever talk about consent or boundaries type things or?
Person 2: Yes, in 9th grade.
3
File name: Interview 2
Person 1: In 9th grade. What about…and sexual orientation or like sexual violence or what a
healthy relationship looks like, did you guys talk about that ever?
Person 2: No, we didn’t.
Person 1: No. Okay.
Person 2: Wait, orientation we did.
Person 1: Sexual orientation. Okay. Did you feel like you were ready to learn those things at that
time?
Person 2: Maybe by 9th grade, but 6th, 7th, 8th…maybe it was lower but…
Person 1: Okay. Do you feel like anything was missing from that sex ed, now looking back?
Person 2: No.
Person 1: Maybe you would’ve wished to learn about or do you think it was pretty good?
Person 2: Pretty good, yes for me.
Person 1: Yes. In your opinion, and this is completely opinion based, what does sex ed look like to
you?
Person 2: Just like a classroom setting, I guess.
Person 1: So, like what should it include do you think? What are important aspects, maybe?
Person 2: Definitely the body changing. Like the use of contraceptives and stuff like that
could…STD’s and stuff.
Person 1: Okay. Who do you think should teach it maybe? You mentioned a classroom setting so
do you still think maybe it should be in a classroom?
Person 2: Yes, it should be a classroom. Probably…but the same gender. I feel like that’d make it
more comfortable.
4
File name: Interview 2
Person 1: Do you think it’d be more comfortable if they split genders?
Person 2: Yes, if they split it.
Person 1: Yes, okay. So, you said you received it maybe in a school setting. Did you ever receive
sex ed from multiple sources, so maybe like also family or friends or the media?
Person 2: Yes, friends like little things.
Person 1: Yes, cause sex ed can be very broad right. So, even in the media we hear things. Do
you feel like you were exposed to that as well during that time?
Person 2: In the media, not so much. Maybe like commercials and stuff, for like condoms and stuff.
Person 1: Okay. How did they differ from what you learned at school or like what was similar about
them? Maybe the topics? Cause I feel like sometimes they’re different. Like maybe you learn about
contraceptives because of those condom commercials, but maybe you learned about
contraceptives also but in a different way in a school setting. So, maybe were there topics that
coincided with each other?
Person 2: Yes, like with the condom thing, I feel like it was actually like looked down on in church
and stuff. And at school too a little bit. Yes, and in the commercial’s its made to look better, more…
Person 1: Yes. Okay. What do you think was the most important sex ed that you received?
Person 2: It was definitely 9th grade. Some just like prevention from like infections and stuff like
that.
Person 1: Sure. So, thinking about your early sexual experiences if any, how do you feel about
them? Like did you engage in protection?
Person 2: I have never done it.
Person 1: Okay. Let me move on…so, getting onto the next part. First of all, did you have any type
of sexual coming out experience or story?
5
File name: Interview 2
Person 2: So, like if I was gay or something?
Person 1: Any type of coming out story, so like maybe you weren’t necessarily gay.
Person 2: No.
Person 1: No. So, now that we’ve talked about like health related stuff, now we can talk about
experiences on campus. So, if you think back to like your first week at UCSD, what do you
remember from orientation? Do you remember learning anything about consent during orientation?
Person 2: Yes, I did. We had like…we went to the Ivy Theater and they told us some stuff like, you
need to ask for consent and stuff. And then we had like to do some modules over the summer.
Person 1: Okay. Did you learn about any like types of sexual violence or healthy relationship
topics? Do you remember?
Person 2: Yes, like they talked about rape and some of the…in some of the modules and what a
healthy relationship should look like, in the modules.
Person 1: Sure. Did you learn about drinking?
Person 2: Drinking? Yes, same module.
Person 1: What about your first week at school. So, were there any specific social experiences that
you remember?
Person 2: Not really.
Person 1: And what year are you again, sorry?
Person 2: First.
Person 1: First year. Where there any experiences related to like relationships or hook-ups
specifically? Like do you remember there being like a huge environment where like you felt
pressured in any type of way?
6
File name: Interview 2
Person 2: No.
Person 1: No. Okay. So, we know college can be really different from high school. So, can you tell
me maybe what you found hardest about adjusting to college life?
Person 2: For me the hardest part was definitely being away from home. Yes, kind of missed home
for a while.
Person 1: Okay, anything else?
Person 2: Also the classes are tougher than high school.
Person 1: Classes are…yes, they are. What about living on your own, like it’s a huge adjustment
going from living with family to like…?
Person 2: It’s actually…
Person 1: Being self-sufficient…
Person 2: I actually like it better.
Person 1: You like it better. Is there anything else you wish you would’ve known, before you started
UCSD, now that you’ve started?
Person 2: Let me think.
Person 1: Yes, sure.
Person 2: No.
Person 1: No. Where things that you did…so I’m assuming this is your first quarter here, right?
Person 2: Yes.
Person 1: So, are there things that you’ve maybe done already that you would never do again? I
know it’s only been a span of two months, but if there’s anything…even academic related.
7
File name: Interview 2
Person 2: I’d probably study more for my first mid-term, I could say that.
Person 1: Yes. Okay. Do you think your pre-college sex ed prepared you for sex and relationships
in college?
Person 2: Yes, I felt like it did a pretty decent job.
Person 1: And why do you feel that way?
Person 2: Because it explained what was like traditional and like what it should look like and what
to do, like ask for…use contraceptives, stuff like that.
Person 1: Sure. Okay. It seems to us that people’s experiences change a great deal while in
college, so I want to get a sense of your like trajectory of time here. So, it would be great if you
could give me like a rough sketch of your time. So, tell me about maybe your living circumstances
right now.
Person 2: I’m living in one of the dorms here.
Person 1: Okay. And what’s your social life kind of like? Do you hang out more with say your
roommate or…?
Person 2: I hang out with my roommate and a couple of other people.
Person 1: Are they like on your floor type?
Person 2: No, they’re in other dorms.
Person 1: Okay. Since you are a freshman, this question doesn’t apply but let’s talk about
socializing. So, maybe tell me about a story about a recent weekend or maybe even a week night
that you would say is typical of how you like hang out with your friends?
Person 2: So, a typical day would probably be…I mean, a typical night like we just…like play
basketball, maybe some video games after in the room.
8
File name: Interview 2
Person 1: Okay. Do you get ready at all, for like hanging out? Like is there anything you do
specifically, like maybe even tidy up your room, change your clothes, take a shower, things like
that?
Person 2: Yes, maybe change my clothes a little.
Person 1: Do you use any substances? And remember this is totally confidential so it doesn’t
matter.
Person 2: No.
Person 1: Okay. Is sex ever…or the hope for sex ever part of the evening? So, I’m not necessarily
talking about with each other, I’m talking about in general. Is that ever an environment for that do
you feel?
Person 2: For me personally or?
Person 1: Yes, and maybe just generalizing for like the group.
Person 2: No, it’s never.
Person 1: No. Okay.
Person 2: Never a priority.
Person 1: So, there’s never like a plan to hook up or like even avoiding hooking up? Is there an
environment for that?
Person 2: No.
Person 1: No, okay. Tell me about a recent time where you socialized where it was like really fun?
Person 2: Recent meaning, when was…?
Person 1: Meaning, since your time at UCSD, since because you’re a freshman, maybe like a time
recently, where you actually felt like you had genuine fun.
9
File name: Interview 2
Person 2: It was during some party in the Ivy. We just played some games and stuff and it was
pretty fun.
Person 1: Genuinely fun. Was the fun part like socializing or was it necessarily like playing games
and stuff?
Person 2: It was the socializing mostly.
Person 1: Did you meet new people?
Person 2: Yes.
Person 1: Yes. So, now that we talked about a good time. Tell me about a time maybe that was like
really disappointing or awkward for you, an experience? And like what made it that way? And we
have time so don’t worry about thinking.
Person 2: A time that was awkward was definitely, some guy like started like grabbing my hand, I
guess.
Person 1: Like at a party or something?
Person 2: Yes.
Person 1: Yes. And like…it felt…like did you make you feel embarrassed, is that why it was
awkward, like some type of…did it make you feel like?
Person 2: Yes, it made me definitely feel embarrassed and stuff.
Person 1: Yes, or uncomfortable.
Person 2: Yes uncomfortable.
Person 1: Has there ever been a time that you regretted something you did socially?
Person 2: Yes. One time…let’s see, I like poked fun at some people…like a group of people, in
high school and they like…and since then, like a lot of people didn’t want to like hang out with me.
10
File name: Interview 2
Person 1: Okay. So, we’ve talked about sex, but now let’s go into a little bit of greater detail. For the
success of our research, it’s really important to understand how sex and intimacy work here at
UCSD. So, before I get to these questions, I want to remind you of a couple of things. So, first you
are absolutely not required to answer any questions that I ask. You can always ask us to move on
and I will for sure, do that. Second, we take very seriously our obligations regarding confidentiality
and we are exempt from mandatory reporting. Third, not everyone is pursuing or has experienced
sex and we are interested in any kind of intimate relationship that you’ve had that go beyond
friendship. So, it does not have to be sex. Finally, we have a list of resources that I also gave to
you, in case you want to talk to someone about these experiences. So, first question is, are you
sexually active?
Person 2: No.
Person 1: No. What are the things you worry about when you have or are thinking about having
sex, just in general?
Person 2: Definitely the infection part.
Person 1: Like STI’s.
Person 2: Yes, STI’s.
Person 1: What about like body image? Is that ever a factor for you or not really?
Person 2: No.
Person 1: No. What about like not being good at sex or how people will think of sex?
Person 2: Yes, that…
Person 1: Yes. Are you ever worried about not knowing how to convey consent to someone?
Person 2: Yes, I feel like it might be a little awkward, like just as a straight up ask.
11
File name: Interview 2
Person 1: Yes. Do you think sex education that you received in the past has helped you navigate
through any type of sexual experiences that you’ve had or not?
Person 2: Yes, I definitely think it helped me a little bit.
Person 1: How? Do you think it prepared you?
Person 2: Yes, it prepared me, like the little steps of what to do.
Person 1: Okay. Alright, that’s it. So, thank you so much. It’s been really helpful. So, I want to tell
you like the main goals for this interview were basically to understand your life before coming to
UCSD and what your relationships are like here and how you’ve developed and changed since
starting. I know you haven’t been here long, but is there anything that you feel like we should’ve
talked about more in this interview or anything you want to talk about or we’re good?
Person 2: Nothing I could think of.
Person 1: Okay. Alright, that was good.
[00:16:28][END OF AUDIO]
12
Qualitative Analysis Practice (5 possible points)
Four items have been uploaded for you:
– 2 audio files
– 2 transcriptions
– 1 semi-structured interview guide
You will be responsible for:
1. Listening to the qualitative lecture (week 6), so you have a general idea about how interviews are coded and themes
are created.
2. Listening to the audio files (and taking notes while you listen think about how the questions are being asked, the
pacing of the interview, does the interviewee sound comfortable, does the interviewer sound comfortable?).
3. Reviewing the interview guide
4. Reading through the transcriptions (taking some notes while you read over and compare interviews)
Please submit a 2-3 page summary of:
1. A critique of the interviewers: What did they do well? What could they improve on? What are some follow-up
questions you would have wanted to ask that the interviewer did NOT ask? Is there anything the interviewer could have
I should have done to make the interviewee feel more comfortable?
2. A response to those who were interviewed: Do you think they were comfortable? How did their tone sound in the
interview? Did you notice anything about their responses?
3. Did you notice any themes between the two interviews? If yes, what were they?
NOTE: In reality, two interviews would not be an appropriate number of interviews / focus groups to identify themes;
you would need to meet saturation in order for that to happen! For the purposes of this assignment, however, we will
pretend that two is enough! (More on saturation here: https://methods.sagepub.com/foundations/saturation-in-
qualitative-research e)
4. Did the interviewer follow the interview guide? Are there any changes you would make to the interview guide to
better meet the needs of the sex ed evaluation?
5. Are there any changes you would have made if it were you conducting the interview or asking the question? What
changes would you make?
Assignments should be double spaced, 12-point font with 1-inch margins. Full credit will be given to students who have
thoroughly answered all of the questions above, written in full sentences, provided sufficient quote examples and have
spent time reviewing their work for spelling and grammar errors.

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