Sexuality in Media: Emerging Issues in Africa - Africa Regional ...

Sexuality in the Media: Emerging Issues in Africa
South African. This informative article assessed the state of sexuality/sexual
rights and health on South Africa's university campuses. The question of
whether or not sex should be allowed on campus was explored by asking
students what they themselves thought. University authorities were questioned
about their approaches to dealing with the HIV/AIDS' epidemic on campus.
“Estimates are that one in four of South Africa's university undergraduate
students is HIV-positive. “What are tertiary institutions doing about it?” the
authors ask. Most institutions had not conducted prevalence studies and some
were not willing to divulge information fearing the stigma attached.
Stellenbosch, KwaZulu-Natal and Cape Town universities respectively,
showed some promising signs. KwaZulu-Natal University was particularly
progressive with its recent HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care policy
that commits the university to providing HIV positive students with specialised
treatment whilst they are registered. The University of Cape Town “has set the
pace” with curriculum intervention, “where HIV/AIDS is woven into
undergraduates course work in a way that is relevant for them”. The University
also encourages outreach work where students present workshops and conduct
research in resource poor settings and get involved in interventions to mediate
the negative impact of AIDS on communities.
The April article of Fair Lady detailed alarmingly high incidents of sexual
activity amongst South African teenagers. Careless sexual practice, multiple
partners and the prevalence of drug and alcohol abuse are all revealed. As with
many of the other articles in this survey, the authors emphasise the greater risk
for female teenagers even more so. The question of the use of oral and anal sex
to prevent pregnancy- is discussed and shown to be immaterial in the spread of
sexual disease and HIV. Cervical cancer is discussed as a great risk for sexually
active teenage girls. Gender disparities are emphasised vis a vis the question of
teenage girls feeling inclined to please boys (via oral sex). Stereotypical norms
of sexuality included a) males must get pleasure, and b) women must give it.
The authors reveal how women's sexual rights are dismissed in the interests of
male rights, while they point out that it is women's sexual health that suffers
more too. Sex education in tandem with open, loving communication between
parents and their children, is viewed as pivotal to establishing a healthy teenage
sexuality. The article ends with practical advice for parents to promote healthy
sexuality. Tips include monitoring alcohol intake, encouraging emotional
Media Coverage Of Sexuality In South Africa
intelligence, giving privacy when asked for, being consistent, leaving relevant
literature around the house, and encouraging self-respect and responsibility.
HIV/AIDS
As discussed and as supported by the above articles, most reportage on
sexuality issues in South Africa during the first half of 2004 was tied to
discussions about HIV/AIDS. Seven articles comprised this category. These
included the following:
In January, an article entitled “U-turn on AIDS rape drugs”(The Star, January
30, 2004), provided information regarding a new South African law that allows
rape survivors access to anti-retrovirals within 72 hours of the attack. The issue
of free access to these drugs by rape survivors has been a controversial one in
recent years. The activist Charlene Smith has been at the forefront of efforts to
broaden access to these life-saving drugs. The author makes the point that these
drugs will not be readily available everywhere, but only at clinics that are
already dispensing anti-retrovirals. This article cross-cuts with issues of
sexuality legislation and sexual violence.
“Aids risk high among South African women- UN” (February 8th 2004),
written by Caroline Hooper-Box, a Sunday Independent correspondent,
provided factual information as gathered from UNAIDS at the London launch
of the Global Coalition on Women and AIDS. The article emphasized that
women's lack of social and economic power fueled the epidemic and that “most
sexually transmitted HIV infections in females occur in relationships the
women believe to be monogamous”. The need for HIV prevention
programmes to include men, and not simply women, was stressed. The question
of microbicide research was also discussed. This article crosscuts the issue of
sexual health.
A third article (The Mercury, February 23, 2004), written by a young African
reporter, Philani Makhanya, was a factual piece about the after-effects of
soldiers’ residency in the town of Richmond in KwaZulu-Natal during the
political violence between IFP and ANC in the 1980's. The author describes
how there is a high-drop out rate of HIV positive orphans from schools, and
argues that most of these orphans were conceived as the result of illicit affairs
between the soldiers and young women from Richmond town during those