an Eldis Resource

This manual is based on an action research project that explored gender relations in HIV education in Estonia. It contains practical resources for those looking to take a gendered approach in HIV awareness raising activities with young people.

The author argues that much prevention education, based on information provision, has not led to behaviour change, and that in order to be effective, education must explore more deeply cultural and societal issues around sex. Specifically, it must explore gender. She argues that if we do not engage people in understanding the implications of the ‘unquestioned gender system´, we are excluding from HIV prevention education key understandings about what perpetuates heterosexual risk behaviours, and that norms of heterosexual relations within cultures invested with expectations of gender inequality (assumed by both women and men) feed stigmatisation of and discrimination against men who have sex with men. These foster ignorance, fear and risk behaviours.

This manual therefore aims to provide some concrete suggestions for activities that can allow and encourage people to enter the debates about gender issues, examine the gender system in their own society and connect the gender issues they identify to key challenges of sexual transmission of HIV. It provides exercises around eight themes for working in groups as well as practical suggestions of how to run workshops.

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