Human Rights Discourse, Gender and HIV and AIDS in Southern Malawi

Authors

  • Nicole Hayes University of Waterloo

Keywords:

human rights, gender roles, initiation, sexuality, HIV and AIDS, Malawi

Abstract

This article explores how the proliferation of poorly
translated human rights discourse has increased the vulnerabil
ity of Malawian women and girls to HIV. In southern Malawi,
"traditional" gender roles taught during initiations lay the
foundation for women's sexual submission to men, while en
couraging men to think that they are entitled to sexual gratifi
cation. In the wake of the recent democratic transition, young
men have begun using imperfectly translated human rights
rhetoric to rationalize formerly tabooed sexual behaviour and
reinforce initiation gender norms. Women, meanwhile, are pre
vented from exercising their own rights because it is their
responsibility to preserve "culture."

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Published

2013-11-30

How to Cite

Hayes, N. (2013). Human Rights Discourse, Gender and HIV and AIDS in Southern Malawi. Anthropologica, 55(2), 349–358. Retrieved from https://cas-sca.journals.uvic.ca/index.php/anthropologica/article/view/707

Issue

Vol. 55 No. 2 (2013): Time and the Expert: Temporalities and the Social Life of Expertise

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2013 Nicole Hayes

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