AEGiS-14IAC: Gender role and sexuallity among men and women in Bangladesh: Observation from a qualitative study.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Gender role and sexuallity among men and women in Bangladesh: Observation from a qualitative study.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. MoOrE1028)

Khan ME, Townsend JW, D'Costa S
Institution:Population Council, Dhaka, Bangladesh

BACKGROUND: Gender in Bangladesh is key factor in defining social roles, responsibilities, and power relationships within the family. Men are the main wage earners and decision makers. Analysis of norms and behaviour related to gender, power relationships and sexuality shows that they are embedded in the social constructs of masculinity and strong desire to control of women's sexuality. Women's sexual roles are meant to be private and controlled, and not public and expressive. Understanding of these social constructs influencing sexuality is critical for developing appropriate interventions to prevent spread of STD/AIDS

METHODS: The paper based on 237 in-depth interviews of men (71) and women (156) assess how gender roles control sexuality and reproductive behaviour of couples. The issues covered include initiation of sexual life, contraception, sexual behaviour, decision-making process and sexual violence. Variation in their behaviour both within and between men-women has been studied in the gender framework.

RESULTS: Findings show that gender plays a critical role not only in defining sexual relationships but also helps in maintaining dual standards of behaviour for men and women. One mechanism to control women's sexuality is to deny their access to information related to sexuality. Initiation of sex is a husband prerogative. The decision to adopt FP and its timing is control by men. Lack of knowledge of men and women about STI/AIDS, men sexual adventures and lack of control of women to their body and sexuality, exposes them adverse consequences such as unwanted pregnancy and STD/AIDS.

CONCLUSION: Gender inequality is the key factors exposing women to the risk of unwanted pregnancies, unhygienic abortion, and STI/AIDS Lack of knowledge of men about STD/AIDS and their sexual adventures are exposing them to the risk of acquiring STIs There is urgent need to launch educational campaign to make men and women aware of the risk behaviour and safer sex.

Keywords: AEGIS, Gender Identity, Sex Behavior, Qualitative Research, Sexuality, Observation, Sex, Risk-Taking, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Interviews, Sex Education, Safe Sex, Bangladesh, Adult, Human, Male, Female, Pregnancy

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MoOrE1028