A young Zambian woman talks to her friend – her boyfriend arrives and tries to apologise for his poor behaviour previously (he had tried to force her to have sex). She is not feeling very forgiving, but her friend persuades her that he’s a good guy really and she ought to give him a second chance. Time has passed, and she is now ready for the next stage of their relationship. But can she get him to use a condom to ensure both their safety?
“Girl Power III – “For our Protection” – is a Zanelic Theatre Group Production. It can be viewed on its own – or as the third of three new interconnected films. Film 6 – deals with being assertive about your desire to protect yourself and your partner from both pregnancy and STIs like HIV.
The Zanelic Theatre Group are a group of young people from Linda compound near Lusaka, Zambia. The film was shot in 2013 in association with Dr Mike Kesby from the Department of Geography and Sustainable development, University of St Andrews, Scotland, UK. The film was produced as part of a Participatory Action Research project investigating the issues that young urban Zambians face when negotiating relationships and sexual health.
The research identified that even when partners understand the sexual health risks they face, they often find it hard to negotiate condom use. This is because condoms have many negative associations, and ironically, one of the worst is the association with HIV! Young people make the mistake of thinking that if they do not raise the issue of condoms, then the issue of HIV will also not arise. Similarly, they feel they would rather risk HIV than risk losing their partner because of a fight over condoms. Participants suggested it was difficult to ‘find the right words’ to counter the assertion that sex should be “skin to skin” and that “you don’t eat a sweetie with the rapper on”. Similarly, partners usually assert, “I know I am negative”, whether or not that have been tested recently. Participants decided that it was strategic to link condoms more closely with pregnancy, since this often seems like a more pressing risk than HIV. The film suggests that young women can be empowered by being prepared both with a condom and a way to negotiate its use.
This film emerged from discussions lead by young women.
Likes: 0
Viewed:
source