Gender roles in the African culture :implications for the spread of HIV/AIDS

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The AIDS epidemic presently engulfing South Africa is mostly based on heterosexualtransmission. This paper discusses the male role in African culture in the HIV and AIDScontext. Issues facing African women, domestic violence in particular, remain a pervasiveproblem. Women have not yet reached a level of equality and are still being dominated by theirmale partners. Women's subordination can be directly linked to the increasing number of womenbecoming infected with HIV/AIDS, especially within the African cultural context. Culture playsa vital role in determining the level of health of the individual, the family and the community.This is particularly relevant in the context of Africa, where the values of extended family andcommunity significantly influence the behaviour of the individual. The behaviour of theindividual in relation to family and community is one major cultural factor that has implicationsfor sexual behaviour and HIV/AIDS prevention and control efforts. As the impact of HIV/AIDSin South Africa remains unabated, a culture-centred approach to prevention, care and support isincreasingly desirable as a critical strategy. The focus of prevention of the heterosexual AIDSepidemic has been on women. The role of men in sexual decision-making has not beenemphasized enough in AIDS prevention approaches. As a result, the heterosexual epidemic forwomen continues unabated because of the lack of attention to the behaviour of male sex partners.Discussion focuses on the cultural and contemporary sexual culture as shaping factors in theenactment of high-risk sexual behaviour. There are numerous social, political, cultural andeconomic factors affecting the HIV pandemic in the SA region. The main ones are: low status ofwomen and male dominance in sexual and economic relations; sexual abuse (of particularlyyoung girls); historic and current separation of families resulting from the migrant labour systemwhich resulted in multiple sexual partners; high use of sex workers due to single-sex quarters atthe workplace; cultural resistance to the use of condoms; high rates of other STD's; and highlevels of poverty and other inequalities such as health access and education. Stigma about HIVis also a barrier to reaching the most vulnerable, including those already infected. The paperdraws the conclusion that discrimination against women, coupled with male dominance in allaspects of social structures; polygamous marriages were prescribed and supervised by maledominatedsocial structures has increased the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in the Africancultural context.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University