This article discusses the representations that determine what is considered to be normal or deviational in the sexual behavior of men and women; how sexuality is valorized; and how the body is used in middle class urban youth in Rio de Janeiro ("cariocas"). The aim of this paper is to analyze the different discourses present in middle class carioca youth. Data were collected from questionnaires distributed in 1998-2000 among 1.279 middle class carioca men and women. The respondents were university-educated, with a monthly family income above R$ 2.000,00. In the initial group, a total of 258 questionnaires were analyzed, 74 being from men and 184 from women between the ages of 17 and 24 years.
Gender; Youth; Sexuality; Body; Domination; Health