AEGiS-14IAC: Changing relations of sexual authority: women's strategies for HIV prevention in Southern Africa.

14th International AIDS Conference


Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

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Changing relations of sexual authority: women's strategies for HIV prevention in Southern Africa.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. MoOrE1111)

Susser IS, Lee RB, Ipinge S, Parisi PE
City University of New York, New York, United States

BACKGROUND: in order to develop appropriate and sustainable measures to halt the transmission of HIV/AIDS in southern Africa today we need to recognize underappreciated capacities for changing relations of sexual authority between men and women as they are confronted with the ever-increasing mortality from the disease within the shifting political and economic conditions of the new states.

METHODS: This paper draws upon general anthropological research combined with extensive ethnography we have conducted in Southern Africa since 1992 concerning HIV/AIDS and strategies available to men and women to protect their communities and care for people with the disease.

RESULTS: The research led us to question two stereotypes: the supposition that grassroots communities were substantially ignorant about or passive in the face of the epidemic and animated by ignorance or superstition consistently stigmatized sufferers. Secondly, that women are passive or shy and unable to confront sexual issues or to implement female-controlled methods. Rather, our interviews showed that many women were searching for strategies to prevent HIV/AIDS and to care for its sufferers and in the process they were often changing or adapting previous cultural expectations. Many women were extremely outspoken about HIV/AIDS as well as sexuality and, indeed, a number of women have joined together to publicly announce their positive status.

CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the variations and complexity of perspectives on gender and sexuality across different groups will make it easier to translate efforts of international agencies and NGOs into appropriate local action.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, Sex Behavior, Sexuality, Power (Psychology), Africa, Southern, Disease Outbreaks, Anthropology, Cultural, Human, Female, Male, prevention & controlKWDaegis,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,hivinfections,sexbehavior,sexuality,power(psychology),africa,southern,diseaseoutbreaks,anthropology,cultural,human,female,male,prevention&control

020707
MoOrE1111

Copyright © 2002 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.