Thesis (Th. M.)--Grace Theological Seminary, 1984. / Typescript. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 74-77).

This thesis treats the relation of Kenyan non-heterosexual women to AIDS. It studies the ways in which women come to realise their non-heterosexuality and how consecutively they adopt the identity of lesbians or bisexuals. The thesis also describes how women construct non-heterosexual spaces where they can meet and support each other in a heterosexist society where homosexuality is criminalised and how association function as a strategy of fight against heterosexism. Last but not least, it is concerned with the question how women conceptualise their relationship to AIDS and the prevention of spread of HIV. The aim of the present thesis is to present the difficulties of negotiation of non-heterosexual identity in a culturally different environment. The analysis of the interviews shows that the stigmatisation of women's sexuality has practical consequences for the fight against AIDS. Key words: AIDS, gender, lesbians, bisexuals, heterosexism, homosexuality, Kenya