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| Leonorah Kwamboka |
When we talk in discussions and conferences on women empowerment
we mainly discuss the economic benefits of empowering women however when the
social aspects are discussed little is said about empowerment being a way of
reducing the HIV/AIDS spread. As the title suggests, this article is about how
empowering women will reduce the spread and vulnerability of getting infected
among women as well as men.
To begin with, women’s economic dependence increases their
vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. Most women and girls opt to get into other means of
earning a livelihood like prostitution due to lack of finances to sustain
themselves. In prostitution, women hardly get the opportunity to negotiate for
safe sex which thus exposes them to a high risk of sexually transmitted
diseases and emotional distress.
Most African societies have always and still practise wife
inheritance. A woman who depended on her husband will have no choice but accept
being inherited so that she can have someone to take care of her and her
children. If the dead husband or incoming husband is infected with HIV/AIDS
then this will further increase the chances of the spread of the virus.
Secondly, a woman who is not empowered lacks the sense of
assertiveness that would make it easy for her to decline sexual advances from
men without fearing to provoke the man. Violence against women has been a major
factor in the spread of HIV/AIDS among women and girls especially sexual
violence perpetuated by infected men. According to researchers Heise, Ellsberg
and Gottemoeller, in population-based studies conducted worldwide, anywhere
from 10 to 50 percent of women report physical assault by partner and one third
to half of physically abused women also report sexual coercion. (Geeta Rao
Gupta, International Centre for Research on Women)
Thirdly, many societies have a culture that considers it
taboo to openly address issues of sexuality which results in many women being
ignorant about safe sex practises. Further, under these cultural norms and
practises women have no or less power in matters of sex leaving all the power
with the male partners who dictate the when and how of sex. This deters women
from being informed about the risks involved in sex and their preventive
measures; even when they are informed they are unable to negotiate for safe sex
due to existing power relations that are influenced by the patriarchal system
in these societies.
Finally virginity, something women are still expected to uphold
in many societies until marriage, is also a factor which contributes to the
ignorance that surrounds sexuality and thus aid the spread of HIV/AIDS. This societal expectation holds girls from
seeking relevant information on sex lest they be considered sexually active.
This ultimately means girls grow up well into young adults without the right
information on safe sex and in most cases with distorted notions and beliefs on
sexuality. When they finally become sexually active, because they are not well
informed, they are not in a position and do have the courage to say no to
sexual advances or report cases of rape when they happen. They may thus get
infected with HIV/AIDS.
Women empowerment enhances financial stability among women
so that they are able to take care of themselves reducing the need for such
practises like prostitution and wife inheritance. The empowered woman not only
has the power to make assertive decisions but also has multiple options and the
freedom to choose the kind of life she wants to lead. She can also assert
herself in any sexual relationship she gets into with the power to negotiate
for safe sex, when and how to engage in sex without any fear of violence or
reprimands.
Further, a comprehensive sex education need to be introduced
and actively implemented in all societal institutions like mainstream
educational institutions at all levels, churches, open public forums and open
discussions encouraged within households. This education should focus on both
girls and boys and should focus on such things as the risks involved in unsafe
sexual activities, the proper use of contraceptives and HIV/AIDS.
