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Exploring intergenerational changes in perceptions of gender roles and sexuality among Indigenous women in Oaxaca
- Source :
- Culture, healthsexuality. 18(8)
- Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- The south of Mexico has traditionally faced disproportionate social, health and economic disadvantage relative to the rest of the country, due in part to lower levels of economic and human development, and barriers faced by Indigenous populations. The state of Oaxaca, in particular, has one of the highest proportions of Indigenous people and consistently displays high rates of maternal mortality, sexually transmitted infections and teenage pregnancy. This study examines how social values and norms surrounding sexuality have changed between two generations of women living in Indigenous communities in Oaxaca. We conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with 19 women from two generational cohorts in 12 communities. Comparison views of these two cohorts suggest that cultural gender norms continue to govern how women express and experience their sexuality. In particular, feelings of shame and fear permeate the expression of sexuality, virginity continues be a determinant of a woman's worth and motherhood remains the key attribute to womanhood. Evidence points to a transformation of norms, and access to information and services related to sexual health is increasing. Nonetheless, there is still a need for culturally appropriate sex education programmes focused on female empowerment, increased access to sexual health services, and a reduction in the stigma surrounding women's expressions of sexuality.
- Subjects :
- Health (social science)
Social Values
media_common.quotation_subject
Sexual Behavior
Population
Culture
Poison control
Human sexuality
Indigenous
03 medical and health sciences
Young Adult
0302 clinical medicine
Pregnancy
Medicine
Humans
030212 general & internal medicine
Healthcare Disparities
Empowerment
education
Mexico
Reproductive health
media_common
Teenage pregnancy
education.field_of_study
030505 public health
business.industry
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Virginity test
Gender studies
Middle Aged
Intergenerational Relations
Indians, North American
Women's Health
Female
Power, Psychological
0305 other medical science
business
Sexuality
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14645351
- Volume :
- 18
- Issue :
- 8
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Culture, healthsexuality
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....36d8a8a5e819538d87ed359185277e32