Who Let Her Out of the Kitchen?

Presentation on theme: "Who Let Her Out of the Kitchen?"— Presentation transcript:

1 Who Let Her Out of the Kitchen?
The He-Man Woman-Hating Virus Katherine Levesque University of New Hampshire IA 701

2 Research Question Why do women living in African nations contract HIV/AIDS at more than twice the rate that men do?

3 HIV/AIDS in Numbers 33.3 million cases of HIV/AIDS worldwide
22.5 million in sub-Saharan Africa 58% in women Women (aged 15-24)  >4x as likely

4 Talk about HIV here

5 Increased Vulnerability of Women
Biological Factors Sociocultural Factors Socioeconomic Factors

6 Biological Factors Sociocultural Factors Socioeconomic Factors

7 Sociocultural Socioeconomic
Culture of silence Marriage Virgin Worship Men’s Pleasure Polygamy Female Genital Mutilation Circumcision Ceremonies Dry vs. Wet Sex Myths & Misconceptions Socioeconomic Colonization Poor Economy No Education Fewer Marketable Skills Commercial Sex Work

8 Culture of Silence Taboo Definition of a “good” woman
Lies, silence, beating, parables Sexual health not taught in schools

9 Marriage as a Risk Factor
Arranged marriages Intergenerational unions Early sexual debut

10 Virgin Worship Unmarried women must be virgins Virgin cure
Erotic imagery of innocence/passivity Breaking/tearing virginity is highly valued

11 Sociocultural Socioeconomic
Culture of silence Marriage Virgin Worship Men’s Pleasure Polygamy Female Genital Mutilation Circumcision Ceremonies Dry vs. Wet Sex Myths & Misconceptions Socioeconomic Colonization Poor Economy No Education Fewer Marketable Skills Commercial Sex Work

12 Economic Vulnerability
Economic dependency Less education Few marketable skills Commercial sex work Sugar daddies

13 Connections All of these factors are either created by or exacerbated by gender inequality Deepening economic crisis & increased gender conflict Poverty aggravates high-risk behaviors They are inextricably intertwined

14 Implications Initiatives and campaigns against HIV/AIDS
not effectively decrease the rate at which women contract HIV/AIDS Unless accompanied by programs that liberate women