Gender Dynamics and Sexual Norms among Youth in Mali in the Context of HIV/AIDS Prevention

Catherine Boileau, Bilkis Vissandjee, Vinh-Kim Nguyen, Sélim Rashed, Mohamed Sylla, Maria Victoria Zunzunegui

Abstract

Socially constructed ideas of gender norms and values attached to sexuality need to be considered when aiming to build the young people’s capacity to adopt HIV preventive behaviours. We conducted ten focus groups and sixteen individual interviews to explore sexual norms among youth in Bamako. Premarital sex, multiple partnering, condom use and transactional sex were discussed. The findings suggest that young people’s sexual norms are shaped by kin or authoritative elders as well as by external influences coming from Western culture. Sexual norms are differentially constructed by men and women and are in contradiction with those of older generations. Views on premarital sex, condom use and transactional sex generated controversy among men and women, as well as among more sexually conservative or progressive youth. However, there was general rejection of multiple partnerships. Empowering youth to pursue open debates on sexuality may be an avenue for HIV/AIDS prevention in Mali (Afr J Reprod Health 2008; 12[3]:173-184).   

 

RĖSUMĖ         

Dynamique de genre et normes sexuelles parmi les jeunes au Mali dans le contexte de prévention de VIH/SIDA  A considérer est les idées de genre qui sont construits socialement et les valeurs attachées à la sexualité lorsqu’on vise à construire la capacité des jeunes gens pour leur faire adopter des comportements préventifs contre le VIH. Nous avons centré sur dix groupes et seize interviews individualisées pour explorer les normes sexuelles parmi les jeunes à Bamako. Le sexe avant le mariage, les partenaires multiples, l’utilisation des préservatifs et le sexe transactionnel ont été discutés. Les résultats suggèrent que les normes sexuelles des jeunes gens ont été façonnées par des parents/familles et des aînés autoritaires ainsi que par des influences externes venant de la culture occidentale. Les normes sexuelles sont par action différentielle construites par les hommes et les femmes et sont contradictoires à ceux des générations précédentes. Les perspectives sur la relation sexuelle avant le mariage, l’utilisation des préservatifs et le sexe transactionnel ont généré de controverse parmi les hommes et les femmes ainsi que parmi la jeunesse sexuellement conservatrice et progressive. Cependant, ils ont tous rejeté en général les partenaires multiples. Autoriser la jeunesse de poursuivre des débats publics sur la sexualité pourra être une possibilité de la prévention du VIH/SIDA au Mali (Afr J Reprod Health 2008; 12[3]:173-184).   

 

 

KEY WORDS:  Gender roles, sexual behaviour, parental norms, HIV/AIDS, young people,   Sub-Saharan Africa

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