‘I’m too young to die’: HIV, masculinity, danger and desire in urban South Africa
Overview
In the South African urban areas of Atlantis and Khayelitsha, men and boys see gang membership and violence (including gang-related violence) as part of ‘being a man’. In this context, life itself is perilous and vulnerable. This article draws on the narratives of boys about their lives, and explores some key questions relating to gender, development and HIV. These include: how are men’s and boys’ ideas about sexuality created, and what does this suggest about the kinds of HIV interventions that should be offered? In particular, how does the reality of everyday life in urban South Africa affect male perceptions of risk in relation to HIV/AIDS? And how can men and boys best be targeted in HIV prevention and treatment work?
This article is hosted by our co-publisher Taylor & Francis. For the full table of contents for this and previous issues of this journal, please visit the Gender and Development website.
Additional details
Author(s)
DOI
10.1080/13552070500518186How to cite this resource
Citation styles vary so we recommend you check what is appropriate for your context. You may choose to cite Oxfam resources as follows:
Author(s)/Editor(s). (Year of publication). Title and sub-title. Place of publication: name of publisher. DOI (where available). URL
Our FAQs page has some examples of this approach.
Oxfam in Gender Emergencies Standards 2022-25
Oxfam Gender in Emergencies Strategy 2022-25
