Strengthening Prevention Approaches through Gender Analysis: Know Your Epidemic

1. Strengthening Prevention Approaches through Gender Analysis: Know Your Epidemic

2. Relevance of Gender Analysis • Gender analysis is central to understanding HIV/AIDS transmission and initiating appropriate programmes of action • Stereotypical gender roles and relations and gender inequality lead to vulnerability and risk generating behavior

3. Stereotypical Gender Roles and Relations • At-risk groups: • MSM: Sexual practice counter to gendered expectations of masculine sexuality as heterosexual • Sex workers and in particular female sex workers: Sexual practice counter to expectations of femininity- monogamy, romantic love, sexual conservatism and chastity

4. Stigma and discrimination experienced by those who live counter dominant culture reinforced in law, in popular culture • Stigma is one cause of HIV vulnerability • HIV vulnerability: Limited ability to self-protect, double lives, sexual exploitation, limited access to protective and preventative services

5. Gender norms and expectations shape the sexual behaviour of women and men in heterosexual relationships as well

6. Gender relations • Heterosexual masculinity associated with sexual freedom, sexual adventure, sexual pleasure, rejection of homosexuality • Behaviours driven by this dominant view of masculinity • Early sexual initiation • Multiple partnerships • Risk taking • Reluctant condom use

7. Gender Relations/Inequality and Femininity • Femininity associated variously with sexual submissiveness, sexual availability, expectations of fidelity, fertility, expectations of the male bread winner model • Implications: limits on capacity/inclination to demand safe sex Gender Inequality: Vulnerability to gender-based violence in the private and public sphere; economic dependency

8. These features of Caribbean gendered identities are important dimensions which have to taken into account in devising prevention strategies. They can also undermine to some extent the viability of the ABC strategy   

9. Multi-sectoral, gender-responsive programming • Child protection: Legislation and enforcement; mandatory reporting; response protocols; education for cultural change to address impunity • Violence against women and girls: Effective legal provisions and administration of justice; adequately resourced social services including shelters; social communications for zero tolerance

10. Social protection: Support to most vulnerable households- single parent households to advance economic security • Human rights: Removal of discriminatory laws and practices; advancement of anti-discriminatory legisaltion; enforcemenmt of protective legislation; access to sexual and reproductive rights

11. Social Communications: Challenging Popular Culture • Developing an ethical, values-based ABCD • Autonomy • Be Respectful • Care • Dignity • Esteem -self