Sexual relationship power in negotiating safer sex practices amongst female university students in heterosexual relationships

The structural effects of patriarchy, culture and socially constructed gender roles on women‟s identities, sexuality and relationship power is still a relatively under-researched area within South Africa. This study aimed to explore and describe the sexual relationship power of female university students in negotiating for safer sex practices, as women between 18 and 25 years of age are considered the most at-risk cohort for HIV and sexual health related risk and infection. The study utilized purposive sampling techniques, selecting young women and men to explore the influence of culture, socially constructions, gender, sexuality and sexual relationship power in negotiating for safer sex. Data was collected via semi structured individual interviews with 5 female participants and a focus group discussion with 8 female and 3 male participants. All data collection procedures were conducted in English, as this is the language of instruction at the institution. The data was analysed using a six-phase model for thematic analysis. The study used an interpretivist lens to allow the participants understanding of their experiences with the phenomenon of sexual relationship power. The findings revealed that gender, power and sexuality are contradictory and contested terrains. Traditional gender discourses make men‟s greater power within heterosexual relationships appear normal. Yet, the results reveal that gender identities and roles, and sexual relationship power is tension filled and that these individuals experience discontinuities and gaps in their power. This is apparent in the women participants‟ assertion that their personal sexual relationship power depends on the context. This means that men do not enjoy overall power and that these breaks in power hold promise for the construction and creation of newer forms of gender behaviour which will give women‟s identities greater power in expressing themselves in their sexual relationships and will equip them to better protect their sexual health