The Social Situatedness of Sexual Expression Among Youth in Rural Edo State, Nigeria

This research, utilizing data gathered among adolescent students living in rural southern Nigeria (Edo State), elucidates the youths\u27 sexual understandings and their connections to HIV risk. I found that gender and age-related understandings acted as \u27hubs\u27 for the organization of the youths\u27 sexual scripts. Overall, scripts that promote vulnerability to HIV include sex as controlled by the male, inherent in valued female/male relationships, a means to social status, and \u27normally\u27 violent. In addition, the youth do not view HIV as a present or preventable danger and view condoms as unreliable protection from disease that mainly work to disassociate oneself from a disrespected sex partner. Scripts that may promote the adoption of safer-sex behaviors include the ability to \u27play love\u27 rather than have sex in a female/male relationship, sex as a danger to personal and familial success, and condom use as a \u27masculine\u27 activity which demonstrates caring for the female partner