Objective

To describe and explain imaginaries about sexuality that university students have at the beginning of their professional training.

Methods

Study with a qualitative approach, for which grounded theory was used as methodology and method. 11 students enrolled in the first semester of different undergraduate programs were included. The information was collected through 25 in-depth interviews, with an average of two interviews per reporter.

Results

Six categories emerged from the data: socialization of sexuality in the family; socialization of sexuality in the school; socialization of sexuality in the media; socialization of sexuality with peers; traditional imaginary of sexuality; and liberal imaginary of sexuality. The grounded theory emerged based on these general categories: "Sexuality imaginaries between adaptation and resistance".

Discussion

The theoretical approach describes how young people internalize the symbols and views of sexuality that they learn before entering university during socialization processes with their family, the school, the media, peers and own experiences. This internalization is not completely passive, as the youth go through some confrontation processes in relation to these visions that lead them to adapt or resist.