Women who are poor, undereducated, and of color are disproportionately represented among new cases of HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS prevention interventions for this population have focused on reducing behavioral risk by strengthening peer and social support and providing women with information related to HIV risk, skills training, sexual self-control, and assertiveness (e.g., DiClemente & Wingood, 1995; Jemmott & Jemmott, 1992). However, the focus on improved supports and competencies fails to take into consideration the reality that for some Black women, sexual behavior occurs in a social context that includes violence, substance abuse, and commercial sex work (e.g., see Amaro, 1995; Zierler & Krieger, 1997). These contextual factors are mechanisms through which the broader social systems of oppression (e.g., poverty, discrimination based on race, class, and gender) impact the lives of Black women. The current study explores this topic by drawing upon both qualitative and quantitative data. Women (n=30) will undergo an in-depth tape-recorded interview that consists of questions concerning being a Black woman, social support resources, her primary relationship and partner characteristics, any secondary relationship, and the respondents' sexual behavior with her primary and secondary partners. After each interview, respondents will complete a brief questionnaire that captures demographic information, HIV risk behavior, concern about HIV/AIDS, and experience with childhood sexual abuse. The qualitative data will be coded to identify emergent themes and interpreted in conjunction with the quantitative data for this presentation. The current study represents an important first step towards understanding how systems of oppression influence Black women's sexual lives.
Learning Objectives: 1. To understand what Black women's experiences of oppression are 2. To describe how the experience of oppression relates to sexual risk behavior for Black women 3. To describe what personal characteristics Black women are able to draw upon that promote the reduction of sexual risk-taking
Keywords: Social Inequalities, Women and HIV/AIDS
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.