The sexual scripts of Kenyan young people and HIV prevention

Abstract

The scripting of sexual encounters among young people in Kenyan is described using results of 28 focus group discussions conducted with young people attending primary school standard 7, from four different ethnic groups and living in 22 different communities. Sexual encounters were described as both mundane and inevitable and followed a predetermined scripted sequence of events and interactions in which girls and boys played complementary roles. These scripts were set within discourses of force and the exchange of gifts for sex. The gendered nature of the script and its social and cultural foundations are discussed. Potential strategies for developing HIV prevention programming are discussed from the perspective of existing sexual scripts.

Notes

Eleanor Maticka‐Tyndale is a university professor and Melanie Gallant, Chris Brouillard‐Coyle, Dan Holland and Karen Metcalfe are research assistants within the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Windsor, Ontario Canada. Janet Wildish and Mary Gichuru work at the Centre for British Teachers, Kenya.

Playing sex is the term used by adults and youth alike to refer to sexual intercourse.

The amount of 200 shillings was well beyond the means of the boys in this group. They made it clear that this figure was merely used to illustrate what girls might want. US$1 is approximately 75 shillings.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mary Gichuru

Eleanor Maticka‐Tyndale is a university professor and Melanie Gallant, Chris Brouillard‐Coyle, Dan Holland and Karen Metcalfe are research assistants within the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Windsor, Ontario Canada. Janet Wildish and Mary Gichuru work at the Centre for British Teachers, Kenya.