Why Men?

• Masculinity
• Campaign Objectives
• Ideas for Action
• Kofi Annan's Metaphor of the Global Village

HIV affects both women and men. Worldwide, more men than women are living with HIV/AIDS, but women are contracting HIV at a faster rate. In sub-Saharan Africa women already comprise 55% of the 22 million adults in the region who are HIV-positive. When it comes to the impact of the epidemic, women bear a heavier burden. Men are much less likely to care for those infected and affected by HIV -- namely ill or dying family members, the elderly, and youngsters orphaned by the death of one or both parents due to AIDS.

Women are more susceptible to HIV because they are biologically more vulnerable to infection and because of some men's behaviour. On average, men have more sexual partners (female or male) than women, and therefore more opportunity to contract and transmit HIV. Also men have more influence over whether or not to have safer sex. More men than women inject drugs. Men are therefore more likely to infect others through sharing unsterilized equipment.

Men play a central role in HIV transmission, due to their greater risk-taking behaviour. However, factors, such as age, education, income, self-esteem, and peer relations can exert both positive and negative influences over the risk behaviours of men and boys. Unfortunately many men consider their masculinity compromised by the very behaviours that limit the spread of HIV, namely having fewer sexual partners, using condoms or being sensitive to the safer sex preferences of their partners. All of the above can increase the risk of HIV infection for men themselves, as well as women.

But neither men -- nor women -- can or should be blamed for AIDS. In general, people of both sexes lead lives that pose no danger to themselves or others.

When some men fail to protect themselves and others, it is often due to social and cultural factors. Family, religion, customs and beliefs, power structures, gender roles and relations, and social expectations all play their part in encouraging men to take risks and to disregard women's feelings and needs. In short, men's risk-taking behaviour may be better understood when viewed from a broader social perspective.

Men can use their masculinity as a powerful force for change. Most men want to protect themselves and their loved ones from HIV, and many want to share the responsibility of caring for loved ones who are ill or orphaned because of AIDS.

Regardless of gender or sexual orientation, each individual has the right to protect himself or herself from HIV. Focusing on men, therefore, does not mean ignoring women. Prevention programmes for girls and women need to continue and expand, but without parallel programmes for boys and men, they will have little impact. In protecting women and children from HIV infection, men must also be protected. The best solution is for men and women to work together when they can and separately when they must, always remembering that the efforts of one cannot succeed without the efforts of the other.

Masculinity

'Throughout the world, 'masculinity' is often associated with the 'male drive', greater physical strength, power as well as many problem behaviours such as violence and sexual risk-taking. The meaning of masculinity varies across cultures and changes over time. For example, in many societies men are now taking a more active role in family life than was the case in the past. It is important to recognize that masculinity oppresses both men and women. For example, men who do not conform to masculine stereotypes are frequently stigmatized for being effeminate.

Campaign Objectives

Men Make a Difference

is the title of the first year of a two-year campaign focusing on the role of men in the AIDS epidemic. In the year 2000, the campaign has three broad objectives. The first, to motivate men and women to talk openly about sex, sexuality, drug use and HIV/AIDS. The second, to encourage men to take care of themselves, their partners and their families. The third, to promote programmes that respond to the needs of men and women.

Ideas for Actions

This paper contains many ideas for action. However, these are merely suggestions. Use them, modify them, and build upon them while engaging in your own experiences.

This metaphor is a useful way to remind us all that HIV prevention as well as the care and support of people living with HIV and AIDS requires multifarious strategies depending on available resources and local needs. Throughout this document there are many different ideas for action. People designing activities around this year's World AIDS Campaign theme can draw on them when appropriate; but the emphasis should be on innovative programmes that respond to local needs and priorities.

Kofi Annan's Metaphor of the Global Village

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, recently described our 'global village', which highlights the array of inequalities around the world and illustrates the different levels of development in all fields.

Our village has 1000 individuals, with all the characteristics of today's human race distributed in exactly the same proportions. What would it be like? What would we see as its main challenges?

Some 150 of the inhabitants live in an affluent area of the village, about 780 in poorer districts. Another 70 or so live in a neighbourhood that is in transition. The average income per person is $6000 a year, and there are more middle-income families than in the past. But just 200 people dispose of 86% of all the wealth, while nearly half of the villagers are eking out an existence on less than $2 a day.

Men outnumber women by a small margin, but women make up a majority of those who live in poverty. Adult literacy has been increasing. Still, some 220 villagers -- two-thirds of them women -- are illiterate. Of the 390 inhabitants under 20 years of age, three-fourths live in the poorer districts and many are looking desperately for jobs that do not exist. Fewer than 60 people own a computer and only 24 have access to the Internet. More than half have never made or received a phone call.

Life expectancy in the affluent district is nearly 78 years, in the poorer areas 64 years -- and in the poorest neighbourhoods a mere 52 years. Each marks an improvement over previous generations, but why do the poorest lag so far behind? Because in their neighbourhoods there is a far higher incidence of infectious diseases and malnutrition, combined with an acute lack of access to safe water, sanitation, health care, adequate housing, education and work.

Source: Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations, Millennium Report, April 2000.