Danielle Lynch

HIV / AIDS and women in Africa

HIV/AIDS, as reported in my first research posting is a force that is, no doubt, limiting women’s abilities in Africa. And though HIV/AIDS was initially blamed on the promiscuous, IV drug users and prostitutes, many African women living with the disease are more victims of circumstance than that of other countries.

The African epidemic is caused, at least in part, by a general disregard for women and the permissible assaults and rapes that go unmentioned.  Because most African cultures are patriarchal, and because women have a natural loyalty to faith and their husbands, even marital rape is accepted (Haddad 1).

Even in a 2006 article, women are still said to be “inferior” and are to “serve in the kitchen,” already forcing women to live imminently.  And it is because of this imminence and because of the lack of women’s rights, African women find safe sex near impossible, even assault and rape aside. Moreover, it’s improper for African women to discuss assault, rape or sex in public, therefore most won’t do it at all.

But it’s not just grown women who are dealing with what we find vile and inhumane. In 2001, Africans introduced a chastity belt for baby girls. The chastity belt has a lock and key to keep your child safe from would-be rapists who could possibly infect her with the virus. The same year, “of the 21,000 cases reported in 2001, most were committed by the victim's relatives” (Nuttall). And According to The South African Institute of Race Relations, 58 children were raped or nearly raped in South Africa every day (Nuttall).

Why would anyone rape a baby, aside from being simply depraved? Approximately 18 percent of African men believe that “sex with a virgin — even a child or baby — can prevent or cure HIV/AIDS” (Nuttall). India, like Africa has an HIV/AIDS population of more than 3 million. There, they also believe the myth of the “Virgin Cure.” According to Science in Africa, the “Virgin Cure” can be traced back to 19^th century Victorian England, a far cry from the colonized third-world countries of India and Africa. In Victorian England it was believed that STDs like gonorrhea and syphilis could be cured by having sex with a virgin.

The following web site shows the prevalence of AIDS cases in Africa by region: http://www.aidsinafrica.net/map.php

So what can be done? Only 17% of those infected in Africa are currently getting the treatment they need for the virus. With approximately 65% of the HIV/AIDS-infected population, the best option is treatment and access to quality medical care.  In combination with treatment, access to medical care and doctors could possibly at least increase the dialogue between women and the medical community and make discussing safe sex and rape less taboo. And ultimately, educating those with the disease on how its spread and what won’t cure it might do some good.

Works Cited

Haddad, Beverly. “Faith Resources and Sites as Critical to Participatory Learning with Rural South African Women.” Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion 22 (Spring 2006): 135-154. ProjectMuse. University of Houston Library. Houston, TX. 6 April 2008.
<http://libproxy.uhcl.edu:2302/journals/
journal_of_feminist_studies_in_religion/v022/22.1haddad.html>

Nuttall, Sarah. “Girl Bodies.” 22 (Spring 2004): 17-33.
< http://libproxy.uhcl.edu:2302/journals
/social_text/v022/22.1nuttall.html>