Perceptions of HIV/AIDS on a Johannesburg gold mine

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 40 mine-workers on a Johannesburg gold mine, focusing on workers’ perceptions of health, HIV/AIDS and sexuality. The paper seeks to highlight a range of factors which might predispose mine-workers to high-risk sexual behaviour, despite the fact that they had all attended HIV-education programmes. These factors are presented within a framework that views the process of sexual decision-making as a debating process - in which competing facts and beliefs are weighed up against one another - within the context of a range of normative and social parameters. Firstly attention is given to a number of pre-existing perceptions and doubts which may blunt the force of the facts that HIV educational messages seek to impart to this particular group of people. These include a lack of perceived urgency regarding the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s), a commitment to ‘flesh-to-flesh’ sex , a dislike of condoms, and faith in the ability of traditional healers to cure a range of STD’s and possibly also HIV/AIDS. Secondly attention is given to the normative context of sexuality, and in particular the way in which norms of masculinity predispose people to high-risk sexual behaviour. Finally the paper focuses on some aspects of social and occupational life on the mines as the context within which sexual relationships are conducted. These include the phenomenon of single sex hostels, an acceptance of high levels of disease and accidents as the norm, and the use of alcohol. The paper concludes with a discussion of the challenges these findings pose for a peer education programme which is shortly to be implemented in the mining context

Does South Africa need trade promotion organisations?

This article analyses one aspect of export promotion that has come to be an important mechanism for public sector implementation of export promotion, namely trade promotion organisations. Drawing on the export experiences of firms in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, we explore the possible role of a trade promotion organisation (TPO) in efforts to promote exports. Based on this, we conclude that services that may be offered by a TPO are already offered by a combination of private and public sector service providers; that the barriers to export growth in KwaZulu-Natal firms have little, if any, relationship to TPO services; and that, based on this evidence, there seems to be no case for public sector investment in TPOs. We do, however, find some weaknesses in export service provision, and suggest some policy changes in this regard.

Guiones sexuales de la seducción, el erotismo y los encuentros sexuales en el norte de Chile Sexual scripts about seduction, eroticism and sexual encounters in the north of Chile

Este artículo analiza las diversas expresiones que adquieren los encuentros sexuales, la seducción y el erotismo en el norte de Chile. El estudio se realizó usando la Teoría de los scripts sexuales. Se entrevistó a 46 hombres y mujeres de 18 a 69 años de edad de las ciudades de Antofagasta y Calama. Las conclusiones revelan que la construcción de los guiones sexuales se refuerza con los modelos socioculturales inequitativos y jerarquizados existentes en las relaciones de género predominantes en la sociedad chilena, sobretodo en una zona del país donde predomina la minería como principal actividad económica. Además, en los sectores socioeconómicos más bajos se observan, elementos asociados a los modelos más tradicionales, mientras que guiones sexuales con elementos más flexibles y equitativos en los niveles más altos.<br>This article observes the diverse expressions of sexual encounters, seduction and eroticism in the North of Chile. The study was realized using the Sexual Scripts theory. We interviewed 46 men and women from 18 through 69 years of age from the cities of Antofagasta and Calama. The main conclusions reveal that the construction of the sexual scripts is reinforced by the sociocultural inequitable models and predominant gender relationships in the Chilean society, especially in that area, where mining is the most important economic activity. Moreover, in the lower socioeconomic levels we can find elements associated with the most traditional models, whereas sexual scripts with more flexible and equitable elements are found in higher socioeconomic strata