Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/222994

Title

Social change, migration and sexual health: Chilean women in Chile and Australia

Author(s)

Dawson, Maria Teresa;  Gifford, Sandra Margaret

Abstract

Cultural beliefs, norms and values regarding sexuality and gender forge people's sexual behaviour and understanding of sexual health risk. Acknowledging a person's cultural background is a key challenge for the promotion of sexual health programs and strategies for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV/AIDS. This challenge acquires larger dimensions when health promotion programs are directed towards migrant communities. This article examines narratives about past and present life experiences of Chilean women living in Australia and Chilean women in Chile. We inquire about social changes and exposure to education women experienced in their own country and in Australia and the ways in which migrant women define and articulate their experiences in relation to sexual health prevention. In comparing these experiences, we raise a number of questions about sexual health promotion and programs, including the prevention of STDs and HIV/AIDS targeted to specific migrant communities in Australia. Very few sexual health policies and strategies in Australia take into account the impact that the social and cultural background of migrants, social changes and the 'settlement process' has on the cultural construction of gender identity of migrants in the new country. We propose that these cultural constructs are key in the formulation of migrants' beliefs and attitudes towards sexuality and sexual health. We suggest that there is a need to build effective and culturally appropriate sexual health promotion and prevention strategies that build upon the social and cultural background and the present and past life experiences of migrant women and men.

Publication type

Journal article

Source

Women and Health, Vol. 38, no. 4 (2003), pp. 39-56

Publication year

2003

FOR Code(s)

1114 Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine;  1117 Public Health and Health Services;  1699 Other Studies in Human Society

Keyword(s)

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome;  Australia;  Chile;  Cultural factor;  Culture;  Education;  Educational status;  Emigration and Immigration;  Health program;  Health promotion;  Health status;  HIV Infections;  Human immunodeficiency virus;  Infection prevention;  Life event;  Medical anthropology;  Migration;  Sex role;  Sexuality;  Sexually transmitted diseases;  Social change;  Sociology;  Women's health

Publisher

Routledge

ISSN

0363-0242

Publisher URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/J013v38n04_03

Copyright

Copyright © 2003 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

Peer reviewed