AEGiS-13IAC: HIV/AIDS and gender-based violence in South African schools.

13th International AIDS Conference

Durban, South Africa - July 9-July 14, 2000

HIV/AIDS and gender-based violence in South African schools.

Int Conf AIDS 2000 Jul 9-14; 13:64 (abstract no.. LBPeD7118)

Mitchell C, Smith A
University of the Witswatersrand, Dept. of English, Johannesburg, South Africa. Fax: +27 11-403-7309, E-mail: csaemp@mweb.co.za.

ISSUE: The issue to be addressed in the session relates to the parallels between the growing violence directed towards girls and young women in South African schools, and the growing incidence of HIV/AIDS. The focus is on examining a school-based project which links strategies for addressing sexual harassment and HIV/AIDS prevention within a framework in which aggressive masculinity is seen to be the point of conflict.

DESCRIPTION: To date, there are few programs in schools which address the prevention of HIV/AIDS within a context of gender equality and gender-based violence. The project upon which the presentation is based comes out of a study which has just been completed in Gauteng, Free State and Mpumalanga, focusing on developing a school based module on sexual harassment and gender violence. What has emerged within the study is the significance of locating work on HIV/AIDS prevention within this module where aggressive masculinity is the commonality. Girls and young women who do not have the space in which to refuse sexual advances are at the mercy of aggressive masculinity with all of its HIV/AIDS risks. Sexual harassment practice and HIV/AIDS are inextricably linked. The presentation will outline the approach to HIV/AIDS within the module, examining the responses of teachers, managers and learners, considering the implications both theoretically and practically.

CONCLUSION: Educators and policy makers interested in prevention programs on HIV/AIDS cannot afford to lose sight of the need to address issues of sexual equality generally, and gender-based violence specifically. Stated another way, they cannot afford to lose sight of the imperative of addressing the problem of aggressive masculinity. Embarking upon school projects on gender-based violence which include work on HIV/AIDS might go some way towards prevention of HIV/AIDS in girls and young women. The implications for such a project go beyond South Africa.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, Schools, Violence, HIV Seropositivity, Sex, Sexual Harassment, Gender Identity, Safe Sex, Sex Education, South Africa, Human, Female, AIDS
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