Original Articles

Men in Uniforms: Masculinity, Sexuality and HIV/AIDS in Western Rwanda

Published in: Journal of Psychology in Africa
Volume 20 , issue 4 , 2010 , pages: 601–611

DOI: 10.1080/14330237.2010.10820418

Author(s): Bjarke Oxlund University of Copenhagen, Denmark , Lise Rosendal Østergaard University of Copenhagen, Denmark , Geoffrey Ngiruwonsanga Kayonde Adventist Development and Relief Agency, Rwanda

Keywords: masculinities , sexualities , AIDS , Rwanda , gendered notions of sexual gratification , uniformed personnel

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to provide an in-depth description and analysis of the lived experiences of men in uniforms in Western Rwanda with a view to the links between notions of masculinity, sexual practices and the spread of HIV. A total of 182 members of different uniformed cadres participated in focus group discussions, which were triangulated with findings from discussions held with 136 participants representing other local groups such as school girls and commercial sex workers. Using an ethnographic approach, the study paid attention to local concepts and practices and found that in Rwanda sexual gratification is understood to be equally important for women and men. Implications for the link between gender inequality and the spread of HIV are considered.

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