Overview

HIV ravaged the African continent faster and earlier than any other in the world, spreading primarily through unprotected heterosexual sex. Kaolack, Senegal is a town where travellers and prostitutes converge, and HIV transmission rates have soared, especially among the prostitutes. Going beyond empirical analysis of risk/behaviour data, Women at the Crossroads tells the stories of these women in their own words. The women portrayed keep their profession a secret from their families and friends, but abide by Senegalese law which states that prostitution is legal for those who register with the police and undergo bi-monthly health examinations. By observing one clinic's successful AIDS education campaign, anthropologist Michelle Renaud demonstrates that information presented in a culturally appropriate manner can, in fact, achieve the difficult goal of behaviour change. Although these women claim to be trapped by the social and political forces that have led them to enter prostitution, Renaud argues that they have taken control of their destinies in an inspiring fashion.

Full Product Details

Author:   M. Lewis Renaud ,  M. Lewis Renaud
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Routledge
Dimensions:   Width: 13.80cm , Height: 1.20cm , Length: 21.60cm
Weight:   0.360kg
ISBN:  

9789056995317

ISBN 10:   9056995316
Pages:   192
Publication Date:   22 May 1997
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Undergraduate ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
This item will be ordered in for you from one of our suppliers. Upon receipt, we will promptly dispatch it out to you. For in store availability, please contact us.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction; Chapter 2 The Context of Women’s Lives; Chapter 3 Prostitution at the Crossroads; Chapter 4 Taking Charge; Chapter 5 Praying for Forgiveness; Chapter 6 Wolof Medicine and White Person Medicine; Chapter 7 Running Away; Chapter 8 Conclusions;

Reviews

The contributions of anthropologists to the interpretation, management, and eventual resolution of the worldwide AIDS crisis have received less popular attention than those of medical professionals, perhaps because soft science is viewed as irrelevant to the hoped- for medical breakthrough. This engaging book, with its emphasis on cultural context (especially local religious and health-related beliefs and practices) and its wealth of practical implications (most notably regarding male condom acceptance), belies that notion in a compelling way, through the words of sensible and courageous women involved in (legal) prostitution in Senegal, West Africa. Based on dissertation research, the book describes a remarkably successful AIDS education project under which prostitutes not only changed their own behavior but also that of their clients. There are practical ideas for AIDS prevention education here, and there is also good anthropology. Renaud used a variety of ethnogra.

Author Information

Michelle Lewis Renaud, ,

Tab Content 6

Author Website:  

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

No review item found!

Add your own review!

Countries Available

All regions