Congress Paper Abstract

A Deputy essential: A study of the impact of Culture, Gender and Power on sex/sexuality education for women in the Caribbean

RUBY GREENE, KEELE UNIVERSITY, UK

In the Caribbean heterosexual contact has been the primary path of HIV transmission aided by cultural norms that tolerate unprotected sex and frequent partner exchange. HIV transmission rates in the Caribbean are the second highest in the world surpassed only by the rates in sub Saharan Africa.

Women in the Caribbean are being disproportionately affected by the disease HIV/AIDS. Trends show a dramatic and constant increase of HIV/AIDS in women and their offspring, with the Caribbean now having one of the highest incidences of female AIDS cases among the sub -regions of the Western Hemisphere (UNAIDS, 2000:3). The incidence of the disease over this same period has spiraled (UNAIDS 2002).

The extent of Women’s vulnerability to HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean is notable given the fact that most of the major HIV/AIDS prevention strategies are linked to Sex/Sexuality education, which has been in place in the region for more than two decades, and that these women have high literacy rates, outnumbering their male counterparts at all levels of educational and professional attainment (Danns et al, 1997,World Bank Group 2002).

This paper explores women’s view of the impact of sex education vs. cultural norms relating to power and sexuality on their understanding of sex/sexuality information and education.

The research for this paper is being carried out in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago during the period November, 2003-Janurary, 2004.

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