VisaJe research project

Project Objectives

This project aims to catalog and analyze the representations, perceptions, and stereotypes propagated about sexually inexperienced emerging adults (SIEAs) that contribute to their stigmatization, using three sources:

1) audiovisual media (films, TV series)

2) publications on Reddit

3) data collected through online questionnaires

This is a sequential (three waves) mixed-methodology (quantitative and qualitative) project. Ultimately, this research will contribute to:

1) Understand the prejudices and stereotypes that underlie the stigmatization of SIEAs.

2) Document the media representations of SIEAs to which emerging adults in the proximal and distal surroundings of SIEAs are exposed.

3) Identify the most common and strongly endorsed stereotypes and prejudices against SIEAs among emerging adults in their distal surroundings.

Project Evolution

Ongoing Research

Phase 3

Principal Researcher: Marie-Aude Boislard, Ph.D.
Co-Researchers: Mélanie Millette, Ph.D., Stéfany Boisvert, Ph.D.
Coordination: Laurence Dion, Ph.D. (candidate), Matvei Morozov, M.A. (candidate)
Research Assistant: Gabrielle Favreau-Campeau, B.A. (candidate)
Funding: This project receives financial support from SSHRC (Knowledge Development)
Ethical Approval: # 2941_e_2020
Overall Objective: Investigate the most strongly endorsed biases and stereotypes towards sexually inexperienced emerging adults, as well as the correlates of sexual inexperience in emerging adulthood.

Previous Research

Phase 2

Principal Researcher: Marie-Aude Boislard, Ph.D.
Co- Researchers: Mélanie Millette, Ph.D., Stéfany Boisvert, Ph.D.
Coordination: Laurence Dion, Ph.D. (candidate), Anaïs Maillard, Ph.D. (candidate)
Funding: This project receives financial support from SSHRC (Knowledge Development)
Overall Objective: Study the statements made by sexually inexperienced emerging adults and their surroundings. Content analysis of virtual exchange spaces.

Phase 1

Principal Researcher: Marie-Aude Boislard, Ph.D.
Co- Researchers: Mélanie Millette, Ph.D., Stéfany Boisvert, Ph.D.
Collaborator: Julie Lavigne, Ph.D.
Affiliated Students: Melissa Anne Fuller, M.A., Matvei Morozov, M.A.
Coordination: Laurence Dion, Ph.D. (candidate)
Funding: This project receives financial support from SSHRC (Knowledge Development)
Overall Objective: Examine the media representations of sexually inexperienced emerging adults in films and television series.