GENDER AGENDA

The International AIDS conference started today. In Mexico. I am not upset I am missing the hayhem of an entire HIV-focused world descending on a central point – to get confused and occasionally labour points. I am upset I will not be getting REAL tequila into my system for the next week.

Bastardos!

So just be aware, you are going to be inundated with random useless already-known HIV-issued articles for the next week or so. Hopefully some of it though will be fascinating and breaking through our challenges.

And while I am talking HIV. And possibly labouring HIV issues. I had to give a presentation on GENDER IN HIV PROGRAMMING this morning.

For your fascination, some of what came out of it:


· Why is the Feminism Timeline from a Western Perspective?
o We require a Southern African Feminism Time Line.
o Does this exist?


· The Absent Father (especially in rural areas, where the men have left to work in the cities)
o Is this really a bad phenomenon? His absence might actually be the means to break the enforced gender roles.
o Boys who are brought up in a female-dominated world tend to have more respect for women and be more sensitive.
o Perhaps it is actually the girl/ daughter who is suffering from the lack of male presence?
· The increased vulnerability of men to HIV with our constant focusing on women
· Misconception: Females get raped & abused. Males rape & abuse.
o Both abuse & rape, both get abused & rape
o Are we allowing voices for both genders, as well as access to emergency health care & to the police & protection units
· Condoms –
o Both people should carry it, be responsible for it
o Only difference is that the man WEARS it


· Women are seen as having natural caring & nurturing skills
o What can this mean for a Male Careworker (he is stigmatised & his motivation is questioned)
o What does this mean with remuneration/ wage for this type of work
o What does this mean for which child becomes the caregiver when the parent becomes sick?


· Access to Education
o If only 1 child can go to school, does the girl child stand a chance?


· Are our education systems allowing children to explore their gender roles and their abilities to break free from their gender roles
o The more caring boy
o The sportier girl
o Future aspirations


· Age of Infection is different from the two genders:
o Females more at risk in late teens & 20s
o Males more at risk in 30s & 40s
o What does this mean for our Prevention programmes


· Have we even got the basics right in reaching Orphan & Vulnerable Children and in changing risky behaviour to be changing focus onto gender differences and non-enforcement of gender assumptions?


· How necessary is a GENDER AGENDA in HIV/ OVC/ Education Programming

Fascinating, I know!