Document Detail


Ties of dependence: AIDS and transactional sex in rural Malawi.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  17933289     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
In sub-Saharan Africa, the exchange of sex for material support-labeled "transactional sex" by Western observers--is claimed by some to be a major driver of the AIDS pandemic. Transactional sex is described as akin to prostitution, a degraded form of sexual expression forced on vulnerable women by economic desperation. Using evidence from rural Malawi, we demonstrate that patron-client ties and a moral obligation to support the needy, which are fundamental to African social life, are central elements of transactional sex. We argue that the exchange of sex for money is better understood as one of the many ties of unequal exchange in which Malawians and other Africans engage, an exchange in which the patrons are as important as the clients.
Authors:
Ann Swidler; Susan Cotts Watkins
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Studies in family planning     Volume:  38     ISSN:  0039-3665     ISO Abbreviation:  Stud Fam Plann     Publication Date:  2007 Sep 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2007-10-15     Completed Date:  2007-11-20     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7810364     Medline TA:  Stud Fam Plann     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  147-62     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-1980, USA. swidler@berkeley.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / epidemiology*
Female
Humans
Malawi / epidemiology
Male
Motivation
Prostitution / psychology*,  statistics & numerical data*
Rural Population / statistics & numerical data*
Sexual Behavior / psychology
Sexual Partners / psychology

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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