This chapter explains why the choice of sex partner and the outcome of the resultant relationship are consistently patterned within and organized by particular communities, social networks, organizations, and meaning systems. These vignettes highlight some of the themes of the chapter: the constructed, highly organized venues in which individuals search for sex partners; the role that group cultures and community norms play in structuring sexual relationships and behavioral repertoires; the limited efforts of institutional actors, such as churches or social-service agencies, to regulate...

This chapter explains why the choice of sex partner and the outcome of the resultant relationship are consistently patterned within and organized by particular communities, social networks, organizations, and meaning systems. These vignettes highlight some of the themes of the chapter: the constructed, highly organized venues in which individuals search for sex partners; the role that group cultures and community norms play in structuring sexual relationships and behavioral repertoires; the limited efforts of institutional actors, such as churches or social-service agencies, to regulate relationships and behaviors as well as the limited effects of those efforts; the importance of urban space as a facilitator of sexual transactions; and the social, family, and health consequences of sexual decision making. The chapter also explains recurrent patterns of partner selection and relationship formation in different urban subpopulations, and the unintended outcomes of different patterns of sexuality.