Does Traditional Culture determine Young Men’s Sexual Behaviour and Attitude? An Empirical Study among Primitive Tribal Groups of India

The increasing burden of sexually transmitted diseases and the vulnerability of youth and tribal population to it have formed basis for the present study. This is part of a larger study conducted for academic purpose among 414 male tribal youth of two Primitive Tribal Groups in the state of Orissa, India namely, Juang and Lodha. Findings reveals that early age at marriage and early age at sexual debut along with pre-marital and extra-marital relations with multiple partners are serious concerns among these primitive tribal youth. Exposure to non-traditional world has changed their viewpoint that makes them lesser accountable towards their traditional life-ways. Lack of definite or diminished social system for imparting sexual knowledge is reflected in having no knowledge or incorrect knowledge about sex and related aspects among these tribal youth. Having sex with strangers or co-workers, especially as migrant labourer is also evident and this has direct bearing on sexual behaviour of the youth. It also highlights that presence or absence of youth dormitory or any institutionalised norms is not responsible for determining the sexual behaviour but it is the existence of social system like village exogamy, patterns of marriage, people’s life style and extent of social control mechanism.