Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Those who diverge from sexual norms
are excluded from political or religious
institutions and health services. Those
who conform to the rules may also be
excluded, such as women who keep
purdah
to protect their reputations for
chastity and their family's 'honour'
Girls may leave school when they start to menstruate,
become pregnant, or have early marriages. Bullying of
'feminine' boys may lead to them dropping out of school.
Many young people experience inadequate or
prejudiced sex education
Exhaustion and heavy work burdens leave people little time
and energy to enjoy sex. Hurried sexual encounters between
men who fear getting caught, or married couples in cramped
living spaces lacking in privacy leave little time for
communication or using a condom
Lack of
education/
capabilities
Poverty
of time
Institutions and
access
Lack of safer sex education,
particularly about sexual
practices considered outside
the norm, contributes to their
invisibility
Men have more money to buy sex after harvest;
women have more need to sell sex in the hungry
season. In many societies, there is a rise in
abortions following a holiday or festival
Seasonal
dimensions
Lack of
information
Poorer sexual information and health services are
available in poorer locations. Transgender and sex
workers are often only allowed to live in poor
neighbourhoods and may be evicted and forced to
move on
Marginalization hinders the confidence
and organizational capacity of people
who break rules around sexuality
Places of
the poor
Lack of
political clout
Single people, widows, divorcees,
sex workers, LGBT and people living with
with HIV are often stigmatized. In
many countries, homosexuality and
sex work are criminalized
Men are encouraged to be macho and take risks around sex,
which may lead to sexual ill-health and sexual violence at
home and in war. Women's lack of resources may prevent
them from leaving violent relationships. Honour killings and
other violence, and legal sanctions are prevalent against
people who break rules around sexuality, especially women
suspected of sex outside marriage, un-macho men or LGBT
Ascribed and
legal inferiority
Insecurities
Many people experience pressure to
marry; single people, widows and
LGBT are often excluded and
ostracised for diverging from sexual
norms
Social
relations
Physical
ill-being
Material
poverties
Sex is one of the main routes of HIV transmission. Approximately 33.3 million people are living with
HIV globally and AIDS claims 1.8 million lives each year, although AIDS-related deaths are
decreasing annually with increased access to antiretroviral therapy, care and support
(UNAIDS, 2010). Health complications around sex, reproduction and pregnancy are among the
leading causes of death of women in developing countries. Female genital mutilation, and illegal
and poor quality abortions contribute to these deaths and long-term impairments
Women may gain access to land and other resources only if they
marry, or if married, often gain only unequal access. LGBT are
often excluded from access to resources
Figure 4.4.1
Disadvantages within the Web of Poverty, with examples related to sexuality (adapted from Cornwall and
Jolly, 2006, p.4)
