Love and desire: concepts, narratives and practices of sex amongst youths in Maputo city

This study analyses the perceptions and practices of sexuality among young people in post-colonial and post socialist Maputo city. Using a combination of various methods, it compares sexuality in two different generations and deeply describes two diverse kinds of relationships: occasional and steady relationships. Occasional relationships tend to show a new pattern of condom use that corroborates with the discourse advocated in prevention HIV/AIDS campaigns. The study shows that young women are redefining the gender roles of the wider society through their sexual practices and identities. Namoro (steady) relationships where sex takes the form of unprotected sex are reciprocated by the exchange of the gift of love and the proposition of commitment on the part of the young men. Here, there are major possibilities for HN/AIDS infection. In both kinds of relationships, sex, described by informants in terms of a model of heterosexual penetration, is perceived as a factor that permits transition from childhood to adulthood, bypassing parental and other senior kins peoples' control.

Grantor

School of African and GenderStuds, Anth and Ling

Year dc:date.issued

2004

Author dc:creator

• Manuel, Sandra

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Ross, Fiona

• social anthropology

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/38324

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/38324