Browsing by Subject "sexuality"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    Between/beyond the binaries: transgender youth in cape town re-present their experiences through photo-narratives
    (2018) Pitcher, Sorrel Claire; Boonzaier, Floretta
    Current literature about marginalised youth centres adult knowledges and perpetuates narratives of risk. Additionally, very little is known about young transgender persons within the South African context. Therefore, by making use of Photovoice elements, this narrative project sought to explore the lived experiences of transgender youth while simultaneously creating a space where they could discuss and re-present these experiences. The project aimed to challenge dominant narratives about transgender youth; youth gender and sexuality, and to expand transgender research in South Africa. This project also aimed to contribute to the empowerment of participants by positioning them as experts and centring their knowledges. The study was conducted in partnership with an LGBTIQ+ advocacy NGO and purposive sampling was used to recruit five trans-identifying participants between the ages of 18-26. In-depth interviews were conducted around what it means to be a young transgender person in Cape Town today, and the photographs participants took to represent these experiences. All data were analysed using thematic narrative analysis. The overarching thematic narratives that emerged were: ‘Navigating Identities’ and ‘Living within/out the Cistem’. Within these themes, participants drew on narratives of rigidity/fluidity, exclusion/belonging, and invisibility/hypervisibility respectively. The findings illustrate the complexity of experiences of transgender youth and thus demonstrates that young peoples’ lives are comprised of more than inherent risk. This project also provided an opportunity to critically reflect on Photovoice as a methodology for working with marginalised groups.
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    Gender and women’s studies in Africa : teaching and learning materials
    (2014-09-08) Radloff, Jennifer
    The resources presented here were created in the mid-2000's and are augmented by Feminist Africa journals as well as updated 'related' resources. The materials are diverse and include course outlines, review essays as well as profiles of individuals and organisations involved in the areas of gender teaching and activism in Africa. The resources can be used as guides for discussion, for planning course outlines or used as references. It is suggested that the materials are best used to generate debate and discussion. Taking into account the kinds of opportunities and challenges faced by feminists located in African universities, the GWS Africa project offers African-authored and African-centred material that takes gender seriously. Here we offer Teaching & learning resources developed by the project. GWS Africa uses Information and communication technologies for the development and dissemination of intellectual resources to support and strengthen African-based teaching and research in gender studies. The project started out of a need to respond to the challenges faced by higher education institutions on the continent and in particular, to the development of Gender and Women’s Studies programmes. There is a dearth of home-grown gender research that addresses the poorly understood realities of African gender relations and cultures. To augment the materials presented here, we suggest that you consult the journal, Feminist Africa. Feminist Africa is a continental gender studies journal produced by a community of feminist scholars. It provides a platform for intellectual and activist research, dialogue and strategy. We are constantly updating the materials with related news, events and resources relevant to the subject areas. We hope that you will find both the learning materials and related information useful in your teaching and research.
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    Sexuality in patients with human immunodeficiency virus at Embhuleni hospital in Mpumalanga province
    (2013) de Vries, E; Gwyther, L; Mkhabela, M
    Objectives: This study explored issues of sexuality in people living with AIDS who were on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Design: This was a descriptive quantitative study. Data were collected with an administered questionnaire and entered in Excel®. Statistical analysis included frequency tables, summary statistics and 95% confidence intervals. Setting and subjects: The respondents were purposively sampled from the 850 patients attending the antiretroviral clinic at Embhuleni Hospital in Mpumalanga province. Outcome measures: The questionnaire included questions on sexual practices, number of partners, sexual experience and fertility wishes, comparing respondents’ experience before and after HAART. Results: There was a response rate of 100%, with 102 questionnaires completed. There was a significant difference between the responses to questions on sexual desire, sexual performance, sexual enjoyment and satisfaction regarding frequency of intercourse before and after HAART. Respondents reported a better sexual experience before HAART (t = 2.4387, p-value = 0.0165). There was a statistically significant difference between the number of partners before and after initiation of HAART (p-value = 0.000). Although 96% of respondents rated condom use as being very important, 11% never used condoms during sex and 21% indicated that they had had unprotected sex in the previous six months. Eighteen per cent of respondents said it was very important for them to have a child and 20% were planning to have a child in the future. A quarter of respondents had not disclosed their HIV status to their partners. The majority (95%) of respondents indicated that it was very important to them that health workers discussed their sexual needs with them. Conclusion: Sexuality in HIV is complex, with components described as the “Ps” of sexuality: practices, partners, pleasure, pressure and pain, procreation and power. In this study, participants reported a better sexual experience before HAART. Healthcare professionals need to develop the skills to discuss sexuality, intimacy and fertility wishes with patients. This discussion will enhance healthcare professionals’ understanding of patients’ experiences of their illness and should allow for a more effective patient-centred approach to care.