Women and HIV / AIDS: social problems and sexual transmission.

Current acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) prevention strategies--e.g. condom use monogamy treatment of sexually transmitted diseases--fail to acknowledge the gender power imbalance in patriarchal societies such as India that increases womens vulnerability to infection. In India the situation is compounded by dual images of "good" and "bad" women. Good women (e.g. wives) are considered to be disinterested in sex a phenomenon reflected in the cultural practice of sexual abstinence during and after pregnancy. Studies have indicated that many Indian men depend on extramarital relationships for sexual practices such as anal or oral sex considered inappropriate for "good" women. For women denial of ones self-worth and a life of suffering are cultural ideals. Womens capability to protect themselves from AIDS is further compromised by cultural proscriptions against discussions of sexuality and a 39% literacy rate. Without fundamental changes in culture-specific views of womens worth and sexuality AIDS prevention programs in India will continue to neglect the needs of women.