Gender, HIV and AIDS

© Oxfam photo Annie Bungeroth, Zimbabwe

Gender

© Oxfam photo Caroline Irby, Haiti

Gender is the socialized roles and expectations society places on men and women, boys and girls.

Gender plays a role in many aspects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Here are some examples.

Gender Norms

Gender norms can support the idea that a “real man” should have many sexual partners. This increases the risk of getting HIV.

These same norms make it difficult for men to disclose their HIV status.

© Oxfam photo Caroline Irby, Haiti

Gender Norms

In many countries, older men have sexual relations with, or marry, younger women. Because they are more sexually experienced, they have increased risk of having HIV.

Gender Norms

Gender norms mean prevention tools such as condoms are widely available and reasonably-priced for men, but not for women. Female condoms exist, but are expensive and hard to purchase. © Oxfam photo, Geoff Sayer, Tanzania

Gender Norms

Gender norms can make it inappropriate for girls to know about sex, to ask for information about HIV/AIDS or to access or know how to use condoms.

© Oxfam photo, Andy Hall, Angola

Violence

Women and girls experience many forms of violence, including sexual violence, usually by men who are known to them. This makes them at greater risk HIV infection.

Women who fear violence also have little power partner to use condoms, or to refuse sex.

© Oxfam photo Gilvan Barreto, Honduras© Oxfam photo, Nombuso Shabalala, South Africa

Gender Roles

© Oxfam photo- Anonymous, Mozambique

Gender roles mean women are often the primary caregivers for children and the elderly, including in times of sickness.

Women bear a greater burden of care for those who are sick with HIV and dying of AIDS. This work is often unpaid.

Poverty

Women form the majority of the poor in the world.

This limits their access to basic resources, such as food, water, medicines and transportation needed for HIV prevention, treatment and care.

© Oxfam photo Annie Bungeroth, Zimbabwe

HIV and AIDS

In some countries, a woman whose partner dies of AIDS may:

• lose all her possessions, including her land and children, to her in-laws.

• be inherited by the husband’s brother. This may further spread the virus.

© Oxfam photo Andy Hall, Angola

HIV and AIDS

Gender roles and norms are embedded in culture.

HIV/AIDS programs often do not consider culture and/or gender in program design and deliver, making strategies less effective.

© Oxfam photo Jane Beesley, Kenya

© Oxfam photo Andy Hall, Angola