Gender norms in South Africa

Implications for HIV and pregnancy prevention among African and Indian women students at a South African tertiary institution

Bibliographic Data

ID15098794
AuthorsJoanne E Mantell (0000-0002-0748-5974, Columbia University, corresponding author), Sarah L Needham (Population Council), Sarah Needham (Population Council), Jp Smit (0000-0002-5337-5995, University of the Witwatersrand), Jennifer Ann Smit (University of the Witwatersrand), Hoffman (0000-0002-1870-4853, Columbia University), Susie Hoffman, Queen Cebekhulu (University of the Witwatersrand), Jessica Adams‐Skinner (Columbia University), Theresa M Exner (0009-0005-7311-6586, Columbia University), Zonke Mabude (University of the Witwatersrand), Mags Beksinska (0000-0002-4169-4112, University of the Witwatersrand), Zena A Stein (Columbia University), Zena Stein (New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute), Cecilia Milford (0000-0002-0026-7560, University of the Witwatersrand)
Year2009
Volume11
Issue2
Pages139-157
Publication date2009-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueCulture Health & Sexuality (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1369-1058 • E-ISSN: 1464-5351
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13691050802521155
PMID19247859
PMCIDPMC2782559
OpenAlexW2130227009
LanguageEN
Citations received28
References cited37

In post-Apartheid South Africa, women are constitutionally guaranteed protections and freedoms that were previously unknown to them. These freedoms may have positive implications for women's ability to negotiate sexual protection with partners and hence prevent unintended pregnancy and decrease their risk of HIV. Among tertiary institution students, who are a relatively 'privileged' group, there is little information on gender norms that might shape responses to HIV-prevention programmes. To elicit gender norms regarding women's and men's roles, condom and contraceptive use, sexual communication and sexual pleasure, we conducted 10 semi-structured focus group discussions with African and Indian female tertiary institution students in order to understand how norms might be used to buttress HIV- and pregnancy-prevention. Participants reported dramatic changes in the structure of gender norms and relations with the formal recognition of women's rights in the post-Apartheid context. These generational shifts in norms are supported by other research in South Africa. At the same time, women recognized the co-existence of traditional constructions of gender that operate to constrain women's freedom. The perceived changes that have taken place provide an entry point for intervention, particularly for reinforcing emerging gender norms that promote women's protection against unintended pregnancy and HIV/STIs

Condom · Context (archaeology · Family medicine · Family planning · Focus group · Geography · Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV · Institution · Intervention (counseling · Political science · Population · Psychiatry · Sociology · Tertiary institution · Unintended pregnancy · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Demography · Gender Studies · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Law · Medicine · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare · Psychology · Social Psychology

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