Gender, sexuality and risk in young women's narratives of university life : a study of selected black African women at Edgewood Campus University of KwaZulu-Natal.
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Date
2013
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Abstract
This qualitative study is an exploration of the sexuality of ten black African female
undergraduate students aged 18-24. These women emerge from mixed class backgrounds
found within different or same areas located in KwaZulu-Natal. The study focused on
understanding what these women regarded as sexual risk taking behaviour and what
meanings they attach to gender and sexual risk and how they negotiate or practise agency
within sexual or intimate relationships.
This study presents a framework that closely examines gender ideals and beliefs that may
potentially influence sexual risks. Theories of gender power relations and sexuality were used
to substantiate how gender and power were implicated in sexual risk taking. Individual
interviewing technique allowed for participants to express their opinions regarding sexuality
and relationships on campus and how gender based violence occurs on campus.
The findings reveal sexual risk taking amongst female students are exacerbated by their
constructions of campus freedoms, love, trust, power, boyfriends as well as prevalence of
‘sugar daddy’ relationships. Findings reveal how the participants are able to exert sexual
agency and or conform to male power and dominance. Findings also discuss how participants
are not ignorant about HIV and are not in denial about the possibility of contracting the virus
but some do engage in unprotected sex because they are influenced by traditional and cultural
norms regarding gender.
The findings of this study contribute to an enhanced consideration of the possible issues that
surround sexuality, including financial pressures, leading to female students, especially black female undergraduate students engaging in sexual risk taking behaviours. Possible initiatives
that should be designed or implemented, in university such as a curriculum that focuses on
the other possible sexual vulnerabilities and gender inequalities faced by female students on
campus in an attempt to reduce them, are discussed.
Description
M. Ed. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 2013.
Keywords
Sex differences in education--South Africa--KwaZulu-Natal., Gender identity in education--South Africa--KwaZulu-Natal., Theses--Education.