Gender dynamics in the primary sexual relationships of young rural South African women and men

Abstract

A substantial body of South African research describes the importance of gender dynamics within sexual relationships as factors underlying HIV risk, yet we know little about these factors among young adults-a group at exceptionally high risk of infection. Our primary objective was to explore the ways that young adult men and women interpret and enact gender roles within their established primary partnerships, and how these dynamics influence sexual behaviour in relation to HIV risk. We employed script theory to frame our analysis of the dynamics of gender. Fifty students (25 women, 25 men) at secondary schools in a rural district of KwaZulu/Natal, South Africa completed in-depth interviews about sexual interactions with their primary partner. While many participants indicated that the standards of sexual conduct within relationships reflect dominant gender role norms, our findings indicate that there are important variations in these roles with some male and female respondents accepting and reinforcing the rights of women to determine the nature of sexual interactions. Efforts aimed at improving acceptance and adoption of alternative scripts for women and men may help to broaden young people's repertoire of HIV prevention options.

Gender Role and Relationship Norms among Young Adults in South Africa: Measuring the Context of Masculinity and HIV Risk

“…These findings support our earlier qualitative research, which suggested that both men's and women's ideas of normative gender roles in sexual relationships are changing but that enactment of new roles is a slow and dynamic process. 27 In the current study, young women's endorsement of egalitarian gender roles in sexual relationships appears to impact positively on levels of condom use. However, gender role norms related to partnering practices and heterosexual relationships are still governed by dominant masculinities and prevailing patriarchal norms.…”

“…11,27 Script theory posits that normative beliefs about gender roles guide heterosexual interactions at the individual, interpersonal and cultural levels. [30][31][32] We hypothesized that higher endorsement of violence, power and male dominance would be negatively correlated with safer sexual behaviors, measured here as condom use and fewer sexual partners, among both men and women.…”

“…More broadly, the qualitative findings provided insight into the dynamic and changing nature of gender role and relationship norms among young adults in this setting. 27 Preliminary versions of the questionnaire were developed, refined, and pilot tested prior to administration of the survey. To ensure the items constituted useful and meaningful scales, we established the construct validity using factor analyses and internal consistency via Cronbach's alpha to establish the psychometric properties of the measures.…”

“…27 The often fluid nature of relationships in this setting further explains some of the strategies that protect against this, such as secondary partnerships of long duration for both men and women. It is helpful to interpret these findings in the context of recent scholarship on gender and sexual relationships, particularly masculinity, in South Africa.…”

The (Im)possibility of Child Sexual Rights in South African Children's Account of HIV/AIDS

“…The province of KwaZulu-Natal, where this research was conducted, has experienced some of the highest levels of infection in the country, with one-third of pregnant women now infected (Department of Health 2005). Young women's vulnerability to HIV/AIDS is increased by gender violence, rape and the gendered nature of their roles within heterosexual relationships (O'Sullivan et al 2006). The current context in post-apartheid South Africa has seen rising unemployment and social inequalities, which has exacerbated HIV prevalence rates, especially amongst black men and women.…”