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Tills research project arose from an awareness that many Christian women experience female sexual desire and the expression of sexual pleasure within a religious context to be a forbidden subject and that they are consequently isolated in silence. The social construction of sexuality within the history of Christianity was briefly explored to see which discourses underpin current constructions of White Christian female sexuality. Tills feminist, participatory action research project challenged the silence on women's sexuality by inviting three women to narrate their personal stories of sexuality. With the help of narrative therapeutic practices, some of the dominant social and religious discourses that constitute White Christian female sexuality were challenged and explored. This research project aimed at the co-construction of narratives of sexuality that will hopefully be life-giving to Christian women's experiences with sexuality. / Practical Theology / M.Th. (Specialization in Pastoral Therapy))

Objetivo: Descrever a iniciação sexual e o uso de métodos anticoncepcionais e estimar fatores associados a estas condutas, em adolescentes de 13 a 17 anos de idade, de escolas da rede pública de ensino secundário da Ilha de Santiago, Cabo Verde. Métodos: Estudo transversal realizado com amostra probabilística e representativa de 768 adolescentes com idade entre 13 e 17 anos, de escolas secundárias públicas da Ilha de Santiago em 2007. A associação foi testada pelo teste de proporção, qui-quadrado de Pearson ou Fisher e regressão logística. Para estimar os fatores associados ao uso de métodos anticoncepcionais e preservativo, foi analisada a sub-amostra de 368 adolescentes sexualmente ativos. O início da vida sexual, o uso de métodos anticoncepcionais e o uso de preservativo foram analisados como desfechos. Foram consideradas variáveis independentes: características sociodemográficas, afetivo-sexuais e comportamentais. Foi utilizada regressão logística para análise simultânea dos fatores, considerando-se nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: Entre os adolescentes do sexo masculino, os fatores associados ao início da vida sexual foram: idade maior que 14 anos, ser católico e consumir bebidas alcoólicas. Entre as adolescentes do sexo feminino, possuir mais de nove anos de estudo e parceria afetivosexual foram associados ao início da vida sexual. Entre os 368 adolescentes, 69,3% referiram ter usado métodos anticoncepcionais na sua última relação sexual, sendo mais freqüentes o preservativo (94,9%) e a pílula (26,4%). Fatores significativos e positivamente associados ao uso de métodos anticoncepcionais na última relação foram: morar em município da capital (OR=2,02; IC95%: 1,23;3,32), ter namorado anteriormente à época da entrevista (OR=2,82; IC95%: 1,51;5,26) e ter mais de oito anos de estudo (OR=2,03; IC95%: 1,23;3,33). A prevalência de uso de preservativo na última relação sexual foi de 94,9%. Fatores associados ao uso de preservativo na última relação foram: religião não católica (OR=0,68, IC 95%: 0,52;0,88) e parceria afetivo-sexual no período anterior à pesquisa (OR = 5,15, IC 95%: 1,79; 14,80). Conclusões: Ao contrário de outros contextos da África Subsaariana, foram constadas taxas elevadas de uso de preservativo por adolescentes no início da vida sexual. Os adolescentes podem iniciar a vida sexual de maneira mais segura se tiverem informação, educação sexual e acesso a métodos de prevenção à gravidez e IST. O elevado uso de preservativo e a associação entre escolaridade e utilização de métodos anticoncepcionais entre adolescentes na última relação sexual podem expressar resultados positivos das políticas de saúde sexual e reprodutiva atuais, contribuindo para diminuição da infecção por HIV. Todavia, a influência da religião e da parceria afetivo-sexual no uso de preservativo revela a necessidade de ações de prevenção voltadas para segmentos religiosos não católicos e que não possuem parceria afetivo-sexual. Este estudo oferece elementos para a reflexão sobre o delineamento de políticas de redução da vulnerabilidade dos jovens às IST/Aids e sobre os limites e desafios da promoção do uso do preservativo e educação sexual focando as relações desiguais de gênero. / Objective: To describe the onset of sexual life and the use of contraceptive methods and to estimate factors associated among adolescents aged 13-17 years from public high schools in Santiago Island, Cape Verde. Methods: A cross-sectional study with a probabilistic and representative sample of 768 adolescents aged 13-17 years from public high schools was carried out in Santiago Island, Cape Verde, in 2007. The association was verified by means of test of proportions, Pearsons chi-square, Fishers exact and logistic regression. The subsample of 368 sexually active adolescents was analyzed to estimate the factors associated with contraceptive methods and condom use. The first sexual intercourse and contraceptive methods and condom use were analyzed as outcomes. Sociodemographic, sexual-affective and behavioral characteristics were the independent variables. Logistic regression was used for simultaneous analysis of factors at a 5% significance level. Results: Among male adolescents, the factors associated with the first sexual intercourse were: age over 14 years, being catholic and alcohol consumption. For female adolescents, having more than nine years of schooling and sexual-affective partnership were associated with the first sexual intercourse. Among the 368 adolescents, 69.3% reported use of contraceptive methods in the last sexual intercourse; the most frequent methods were condom (94.9%) and pill (26.4%). Significant and positive factors associated with the use of contraceptive methods in the last sexual intercourse were: living in the capital (OR=2.02; 95%CI: 1.23;3.32), having dated previously the study (OR=2.82; 95%CI: 1.51;5.26) and having more than eight years of schooling (OR=2.03; 95%CI: 1.23;3.33). The prevalence of condom use in the last sexual intercourse was 94.9%. Factors associated with condom use in the last sexual intercourse were: being non-catholic (OR=0.68, 95%CI: 0.52;0.88) and having affective-sexual partnership previously the study (OR=5.15, 95%CI: 1.79;14.80). Conclusions: Contrary to other Sub-Saharan Africa contexts, high rates of condom use in adolescents first sexual intercourse were observed. Adolescents are able to begin sexual life more safely as long as they are provide with information, sexual education and access to contraceptive and STI prevention methods. The high condom use and the association between schooling and contraceptive methods utilization in the last sexual intercourse may express positive outcomes from the current sexual and reproductive health policies, accounting for the decrease in HIV infection. However, the influence of religion and sexual-affective partnership on condom use indicates the need for preventive measures targeted at noncatholic groups and those without affective-sexual partnership. This study contributes for the reflection upon the design of policies aimed at reducing the vulnerability of young people to STI/AIDS and the limits and challenges to promote condom use and sexual education focusing on gender inequalities.

Objetivo: Descrever a iniciação sexual e o uso de métodos anticoncepcionais e estimar fatores associados a estas condutas, em adolescentes de 13 a 17 anos de idade, de escolas da rede pública de ensino secundário da Ilha de Santiago, Cabo Verde. Métodos: Estudo transversal realizado com amostra probabilística e representativa de 768 adolescentes com idade entre 13 e 17 anos, de escolas secundárias públicas da Ilha de Santiago em 2007. A associação foi testada pelo teste de proporção, qui-quadrado de Pearson ou Fisher e regressão logística. Para estimar os fatores associados ao uso de métodos anticoncepcionais e preservativo, foi analisada a sub-amostra de 368 adolescentes sexualmente ativos. O início da vida sexual, o uso de métodos anticoncepcionais e o uso de preservativo foram analisados como desfechos. Foram consideradas variáveis independentes: características sociodemográficas, afetivo-sexuais e comportamentais. Foi utilizada regressão logística para análise simultânea dos fatores, considerando-se nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: Entre os adolescentes do sexo masculino, os fatores associados ao início da vida sexual foram: idade maior que 14 anos, ser católico e consumir bebidas alcoólicas. Entre as adolescentes do sexo feminino, possuir mais de nove anos de estudo e parceria afetivosexual foram associados ao início da vida sexual. Entre os 368 adolescentes, 69,3% referiram ter usado métodos anticoncepcionais na sua última relação sexual, sendo mais freqüentes o preservativo (94,9%) e a pílula (26,4%). Fatores significativos e positivamente associados ao uso de métodos anticoncepcionais na última relação foram: morar em município da capital (OR=2,02; IC95%: 1,23;3,32), ter namorado anteriormente à época da entrevista (OR=2,82; IC95%: 1,51;5,26) e ter mais de oito anos de estudo (OR=2,03; IC95%: 1,23;3,33). A prevalência de uso de preservativo na última relação sexual foi de 94,9%. Fatores associados ao uso de preservativo na última relação foram: religião não católica (OR=0,68, IC 95%: 0,52;0,88) e parceria afetivo-sexual no período anterior à pesquisa (OR = 5,15, IC 95%: 1,79; 14,80). Conclusões: Ao contrário de outros contextos da África Subsaariana, foram constadas taxas elevadas de uso de preservativo por adolescentes no início da vida sexual. Os adolescentes podem iniciar a vida sexual de maneira mais segura se tiverem informação, educação sexual e acesso a métodos de prevenção à gravidez e IST. O elevado uso de preservativo e a associação entre escolaridade e utilização de métodos anticoncepcionais entre adolescentes na última relação sexual podem expressar resultados positivos das políticas de saúde sexual e reprodutiva atuais, contribuindo para diminuição da infecção por HIV. Todavia, a influência da religião e da parceria afetivo-sexual no uso de preservativo revela a necessidade de ações de prevenção voltadas para segmentos religiosos não católicos e que não possuem parceria afetivo-sexual. Este estudo oferece elementos para a reflexão sobre o delineamento de políticas de redução da vulnerabilidade dos jovens às IST/Aids e sobre os limites e desafios da promoção do uso do preservativo e educação sexual focando as relações desiguais de gênero. / Objective: To describe the onset of sexual life and the use of contraceptive methods and to estimate factors associated among adolescents aged 13-17 years from public high schools in Santiago Island, Cape Verde. Methods: A cross-sectional study with a probabilistic and representative sample of 768 adolescents aged 13-17 years from public high schools was carried out in Santiago Island, Cape Verde, in 2007. The association was verified by means of test of proportions, Pearsons chi-square, Fishers exact and logistic regression. The subsample of 368 sexually active adolescents was analyzed to estimate the factors associated with contraceptive methods and condom use. The first sexual intercourse and contraceptive methods and condom use were analyzed as outcomes. Sociodemographic, sexual-affective and behavioral characteristics were the independent variables. Logistic regression was used for simultaneous analysis of factors at a 5% significance level. Results: Among male adolescents, the factors associated with the first sexual intercourse were: age over 14 years, being catholic and alcohol consumption. For female adolescents, having more than nine years of schooling and sexual-affective partnership were associated with the first sexual intercourse. Among the 368 adolescents, 69.3% reported use of contraceptive methods in the last sexual intercourse; the most frequent methods were condom (94.9%) and pill (26.4%). Significant and positive factors associated with the use of contraceptive methods in the last sexual intercourse were: living in the capital (OR=2.02; 95%CI: 1.23;3.32), having dated previously the study (OR=2.82; 95%CI: 1.51;5.26) and having more than eight years of schooling (OR=2.03; 95%CI: 1.23;3.33). The prevalence of condom use in the last sexual intercourse was 94.9%. Factors associated with condom use in the last sexual intercourse were: being non-catholic (OR=0.68, 95%CI: 0.52;0.88) and having affective-sexual partnership previously the study (OR=5.15, 95%CI: 1.79;14.80). Conclusions: Contrary to other Sub-Saharan Africa contexts, high rates of condom use in adolescents first sexual intercourse were observed. Adolescents are able to begin sexual life more safely as long as they are provide with information, sexual education and access to contraceptive and STI prevention methods. The high condom use and the association between schooling and contraceptive methods utilization in the last sexual intercourse may express positive outcomes from the current sexual and reproductive health policies, accounting for the decrease in HIV infection. However, the influence of religion and sexual-affective partnership on condom use indicates the need for preventive measures targeted at noncatholic groups and those without affective-sexual partnership. This study contributes for the reflection upon the design of policies aimed at reducing the vulnerability of young people to STI/AIDS and the limits and challenges to promote condom use and sexual education focusing on gender inequalities.

<p>Kondomanvändning vid sexuella kontakter har en betydande roll för att hindra utbredningen av sexuellt överförbara sjukdomar. I föreliggande studie har fokus legat på att undersöka högskolestudenters attityder till kondomanvändning. För att finna svar på frågeställningarna genomfördes en enkätundersökning på den utvalda högskolan. Totalt deltog 287 studenter som besvarat enkäten vilken bestod av frågor kring kondomanvändning vid sexuellt umgänge med sin partner samt vid tillfälliga sexuella relationer. Resultatet från enkätundersökningen har sammanställts och analyserats statistiskt. Undersökningen visade att studenter hade överlag en positiv attityd till att använda kondom samt ansåg att en diskussion bör föras tillsammans med sin partner om kondomanvändning. Studenterna ansåg att den främsta anledningen till att kondom inte användes var att den var avtändande i den sexuella situationen och resultatet visade även att studenterna använde kondom huvudsakligen för att förhindra sexuellt överförbara sjukdomar. Studenters attityder till kondomanvändning var positiv men för att minska spridning av sexuellt överförbara sjukdomar krävs en beteendeförändring som kan ske genom en förändring av normer och värderingar.</p> / <p>Condom use during sexual contacts has a significant role in preventing expansion of sexual transmitted diseases. The focus in this study has been to examine collegestudents attitudes towards condom use. A survey was performed on 287 students at the chosen college. The survey contained questions regarding condom use during sexual relations with a partner and during casual sexual relations. The results from the survey were statisticly analyzed and showed that students had a positive attitude towards condom use. They also thought it was important to have a discussion between the two partners regarding condom use. The students thought that the main reason that condoms were not used during sexual relations was because it led to a sexual turn off. The study also showed that if a condom was used it was primarily to prevent sexual transmitted diseases. Students attitudes towards condom use were positive, but to reduce sexual transmitted diseases from spreading there has to be a change in behavior and this can only be change through a change in norm and values.</p>

Kondomanvändning vid sexuella kontakter har en betydande roll för att hindra utbredningen av sexuellt överförbara sjukdomar. I föreliggande studie har fokus legat på att undersöka högskolestudenters attityder till kondomanvändning. För att finna svar på frågeställningarna genomfördes en enkätundersökning på den utvalda högskolan. Totalt deltog 287 studenter som besvarat enkäten vilken bestod av frågor kring kondomanvändning vid sexuellt umgänge med sin partner samt vid tillfälliga sexuella relationer. Resultatet från enkätundersökningen har sammanställts och analyserats statistiskt. Undersökningen visade att studenter hade överlag en positiv attityd till att använda kondom samt ansåg att en diskussion bör föras tillsammans med sin partner om kondomanvändning. Studenterna ansåg att den främsta anledningen till att kondom inte användes var att den var avtändande i den sexuella situationen och resultatet visade även att studenterna använde kondom huvudsakligen för att förhindra sexuellt överförbara sjukdomar. Studenters attityder till kondomanvändning var positiv men för att minska spridning av sexuellt överförbara sjukdomar krävs en beteendeförändring som kan ske genom en förändring av normer och värderingar. / Condom use during sexual contacts has a significant role in preventing expansion of sexual transmitted diseases. The focus in this study has been to examine collegestudents attitudes towards condom use. A survey was performed on 287 students at the chosen college. The survey contained questions regarding condom use during sexual relations with a partner and during casual sexual relations. The results from the survey were statisticly analyzed and showed that students had a positive attitude towards condom use. They also thought it was important to have a discussion between the two partners regarding condom use. The students thought that the main reason that condoms were not used during sexual relations was because it led to a sexual turn off. The study also showed that if a condom was used it was primarily to prevent sexual transmitted diseases. Students attitudes towards condom use were positive, but to reduce sexual transmitted diseases from spreading there has to be a change in behavior and this can only be change through a change in norm and values.

This study comprises a close reading and textual analysis of The Sentients of Orion, a space opera series by Australian author Marianne de Pierres, with a view to investigating the representations of gender in modern, popular science fiction by women authors. I hypothesise that de Pierres will pose a fictional enquiry into gender, based on the richness of science fiction by women, but that a closer examination of physical and emotional intimacy (both positive and negative) in these ‘less literary works’ will prove de Pierres’ gender enquiry to be superficial and inconsistent in nature. My main approach is a qualitative exploration of selected incidents through the theoretical lenses of feminist literary criticism, gender theory and, where applicable, queer theory. While I draw eclectically on these interpretive paradigms, my approach is most closely aligned with poststructuralist feminism. Proving the first part of my hypothesis, my findings show that de Pierres does pose an enquiry into gender through her portrayal of plot and character. The particular focus on the intimacies involving the heroine, women, men, and alien characters, proves the second part of my hypothesis incorrect as it reveals how de Pierres not only deeply and consistently challenges the heteronormative status quo, questioning dynamics in relationships, gender roles, ageism, sexism and societal stereotypes, but also provides possible alternatives. / English Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (English)

Tills research project arose from an awareness that many Christian women experience female sexual desire and the expression of sexual pleasure within a religious context to be a forbidden subject and that they are consequently isolated in silence. The social construction of sexuality within the history of Christianity was briefly explored to see which discourses underpin current constructions of White Christian female sexuality. Tills feminist, participatory action research project challenged the silence on women's sexuality by inviting three women to narrate their personal stories of sexuality. With the help of narrative therapeutic practices, some of the dominant social and religious discourses that constitute White Christian female sexuality were challenged and explored. This research project aimed at the co-construction of narratives of sexuality that will hopefully be life-giving to Christian women's experiences with sexuality. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Specialization in Pastoral Therapy))

The general objective of the study is to assess the role of culture and traditions as stumbling blocks in the legal reform that would lead to the decriminalization of same-sex sexual intercourse. Focuses on the sodomy laws in Africa with specific reference to Uganda. Compares the Ugandan and South African legal regimes. Uganda is chosen because it represents one of the African countries where same-sex unions are specifically prohibited by the Constitution. / Thesis (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa)) -- University of Pretoria, 2007. / A Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Law University of Pretoria, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Masters of Law (LLM in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa). Prepared under the supervision of Prof Pierre de Vos of the Faculty of Law, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town South Africa. / http://www.chr.up.ac.za/ / Centre for Human Rights / LLM

Alors que dans les sociétés de l’Afrique de l’Ouest, le mariage représente traditionnellement le point de départ de la séquence des événements démographiques associés à la formation de la famille, aujourd’hui cette séquence s’est complexifiée. Suite à l’effritement des modes traditionnels du passage à l’âge adulte, les jeunes citadins reportent leur mariage, le contexte de l’initiation sexuelle est plus fréquemment prénuptial et le nombre de naissances hors mariage semble augmenter. Peu d’études se sont penchées sur l’analyse de la séquence de ces événements sous l’angle du parcours individuel. L’objectif central de ce mémoire est d’explorer, de décrire et d’expliquer les changements survenus dans les parcours d’entrée en vie féconde des femmes durant leur jeunesse en utilisant comme unité d’analyse l’entièreté des parcours. Utilisant les données EDS du Burkina Faso, nous synthétisons en parcours, sous forme des séquences d’épisodes, les calendriers du premier rapport sexuel, de la première union et de la première naissance. Avec l’analyse séquentielle, nous identifions quatre catégories de parcours : nuptial, sexualité prénuptiale, maternité prénuptiale et célibataires. La méthode permet également une catégorisation plus fine des parcours et une visualisation de modèles de transitions. Nous analysons ensuite l’association entre les caractéristiques individuelles et les parcours suivis grâce à des modèles multinomiaux. Nos résultats confirment l’augmentation des parcours non nuptiaux auprès des jeunes. De plus, ils montrent qu’un niveau de scolarité plus élevé augmente la probabilité de suivre un parcours non-traditionnel, notamment chez les femmes urbaines, le milieu de socialisation à l’enfance ayant aussi un effet sur le choix du parcours. / In West African societies, marriage has traditionally represented the first step of the sequence of demographic events regarding the formation of the family. Currently, this sequence has become more complex. Following the erosion of traditional patterns of entrance into adulthood, urban youth tend to delay marriage, to increasingly engage in premarital sex while premarital births among youth seem to rise. Our study considers demographic life courses of entry into reproductive life as individual sequences of states. The main purpose of this study is to explore, describe and explain changes in young women’s sequences of entry in reproductive life using individual sequences as the unit of analysis. Using data from the 2003 Demographic and Health Survey of Burkina Faso, we synthesize the timing of first sexual intercourse, first union and first birth into sequences. Using Sequence Analysis methods, we identify four main categories of entrance in reproductive life: marital, premarital sex, premarital childbearing and singles. These methods allow a finer classification and a visualization of complete sequences and their transition patterns. We then analyze the association between individual characteristics and the sequence that women follow. Our results confirm that non-traditional sequences rise among younger generations. We also show that while women’s years of instruction increase, the probability of starting a sequence by premarital sex rises and the probability of starting a sequence by a marriage falls dramatically. Finally the childhood place of residence seems to moderate these effects by increasing the probability to follow a non-traditional sequence for urban women. / En las sociedades del Africa subsahariano el matrimonio representa tradicionialmente el inicio de la secuencia de eventos demográficos asociados a la formación de la familia, pero esta secuencia ha sufrido transformaciones. Como consecuencia de la erosión de los modelos tradicionales del paso a la edad adulta, los jovenes citadinos tienden a retardar el casamiento, el contexto de la primera relación sexual es cada vez mas prenupcial y los nacimientos prenupciales han aumentado. Pocos estudios han analizado la secuencia estos eventos bajo la perspectiva del curso de vida individual. El objetivo central de este estudio es explorar, describir y explicar los cambios en la secuencia de la entrada a la vida fecunda empleando las secuencias de episodios completas como las unidades de análisis. Utilizando los datos de la EDSBF-2003, sintetizamos en secuencias individuales los calendarios de la primera relación sexual, de la primera unión y del primer nacimiento. A traves del análisis secuencial, identificamos cuatro tipologías: nupcial, sexualidad prenupcial,maternidad prenupcial y solteras. Obtenemos una clasificación mas fina de las secuencias al visualizar distintos modelos de transición. Empleando un modelo multinomial analizamos la asociación entre las características de los individuos y las secuencias. Nuestros resultados confirman que las secuencias no nupciales ganan terreno en las generaciones mas jóvenes. Además, un nivel de escolaridad mas elevado aumenta la probabilidad de empezar una secuencia con una relación sexual. El medio de socialización en la infancia modera estos efectos, ya que las mujeres urbanas tienen una probabilidad mas elevada que las rurales de seguir una secuencia no nupcial.