women and gbv

1. Women’s Social
Vulnerability
PRESENTED BY GLADYS DZORO
SASA! CHAMPIONS TRAINING: SASA! PHASE 2 AWARENESS
@ CRESTA CHURCHILL, BULAWAYO

2. Source of women’s vulnerability
It is important to note that:
 Men’s power over women is the root cause of violence against women
and increased HIV risk for women.
 Balanced power between women and men is healthy, safe and
benefits both.
 The community’s silence perpetuates violence against women and its
connection to HIV/AIDS.
 Violence against women and its connection to HIV/AIDS is now a
community, not private issue.

3. Are women free to negotiate for safer
sex?

4. Social determinants to
women’s vulnerability
 There is a disproportionate burden of HIV infection within the lives of
women and girls as compared to men.
 Typical descriptions of the social determinants affecting women’s
vulnerability include disadvantages based on gender, economic status.
marital status, education, and cultural norms tend to have a restrictive
effect on women’s sexual decision-making behaviour
 These barriers overlap to provide unique effects that influence behavior in
general and sexual behaviour decision making in particular.
 Cultural, and societal factors responsible for health inequalities affect the
chances of women’s ability to successfully navigate the HIV/AIDS
prevention process.

5. Contd…
 Both women and men are victims of the social construction of gender, but
men's risk of HIV infection is primarily determined by their own proactive
behaviour, whereas women's is largely beyond their control.
 Nevertheless, the economic and cultural factors play an important role not
only in situations of poverty.
 A study in two districts of Matabeleland province(Bubi and Lupane)
detected greater vulnerability to HIV/aids among women who had been
married, had a job and were well off economically.
 The inequitable sexual interaction between men and women continue to
have grave consequences, highlighting the importance of addressing
gender-related expectations and attitudes.

6. Women’s social vulnerability:
Nature of their work
Khumbulekhaya

7. The plight of disabled women
Sinqobile is six months pregnant now. She leaves
with her 3 year old young sister. She cannot visit
the clinic which is 12 km away from the village for
antenatal care.
She can only go to fetch water from a well which is
5 km from her place of residence.

8. Social vulnerability of women
 Safer sexual behaviour among women is determined by their confidence and
capacity to negotiate for condoms and safe sexual position with a partner in
question.
 The trajectory of gender inequality is a super structural factor that affects
women’s economic participation and culminates in their inability to purchase
food and other life necessities which in turn lead to some of them indulging in
risk behaviours (unprotected transactional sex) which expose them to HIV
infection.
 The extend of this susceptibility requires a specific need for strengthened
interventions that directly include HIV and STD service delivery as a
component of women’s health care and social service delivery.

9. Contd…
 Women's increased biological vulnerability is compounded by their
subordinate social status. A woman is more likely to have sexual contact
even though she does not want to, whether she is raped or because she
lacks the power to refuse her partner's demands (forced sex).
 When the vagina is not lubricated, the tissue tears more easily, increasing
women's risk of exposure to HIV.
 The expectation that girls should be virgins and the stigma that is
attached to female sexuality often prevent sexually active women from
accessing health services and information. For example, due to the
pressure for girls to remain virgins until marriage, studies show a
significant number of adolescents who engage in risky sexual practices,
including anal and oral sex, in order to preserve their virginity,
yet placing themselves at a very higher risk of contracting HIV and or other
STIs.

10. Contd…
 The belief that women have sex solely for reproductive purposes while
men need sexual release also creates obstacles for HIV/AIDS prevention
programs that promote female negotiation with their partners and this
frequently leaves the female partner with less power and more vulnerable to
contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV/AIDS.
 Boys or men who do not comply with the expectation of demonstrating
their sexual prowess often face ridicule and questioning of their
masculinity.
 As a result, boys and men are more likely to engage in risky behaviour, and
less likely to seek information about their sexual health because it involves
admitting their lack of knowledge, an indication of their sexual inexperience.
 This places all of their female sexual partners, who could be faithful to them
and them only,
at a very high risk to HIV contraction.

11. Women as victims of gender norms
 Men are more likely than women to partake in
substance use which is associated with more
prolific sexual activity and sexual violence,
placing their female sexual partners, who will be
at the receiving end, at the risk of HIV infection.
 Men frequently demand sex after drinking
alcohol, creating additional obstacles for female
partners to initiate or negotiate condom use.

12. Cross generational sexual relations

13. Contd…
 Cross generational sex has significant consequences for the spread of
the HIV/AIDS, pandemic, placing young women at an increased risk of
infection.
 It is mainly caused by the belief among men that younger women
are more passive, more fertile, and less likely to be infected with HIV
and the belief among young women that an older man will be a better
and more stable economic provider for herself and her children.
 Women are often reluctant to raise discussion regarding sexual desires
and protection, particularly when they have invested in a relationship
which they depend on financially and have children.

14. FREEDOM OR FEAR
How does the threat of violence limits women’s lives?
It is important to note that violence against women has
many negative effects.
Again, the threat and fear of violence or men’s use of power
over women affects all women
It is unfair that women in our communities have to fear
violence from male folks since it diminishes their choices and
freedom.

15. Group work
 Complete the stories by deciding how the characters
in each situation will respond/do.
 Are the decisions based on fear or freedom?

16. Contd..
What is the difference between the two situations?
Can a woman do what she needs or wishes to do.
Why and Why not?
Can the man do what he needs or wishes to do?
Why and why not?

17. Conclusions
Social and cultural definitions of gender shape
female and male behaviour, particularly in the
realm of sexuality.
 Throughout the world, the unequal social
status of women, fear or lack of freedom limits
their lives and places them at higher risks for
contracting HIV/AIDS.