A Few Thoughts on Women and the Fight Against HIV/AIDS

[#HashCon2012- Positive SHE-roes: Strong Women Working Toward an AIDS Free Generation]

“That’s not to say women’s priorities are better than men’s. Rather when women are empowered, when they can speak from the experience of their own lives, they often address different, previously neglected issues. And families and whole communities benefit.” 

-          Dee Dee Myers, former White House Press Secretary during the Clinton Administration

There is a theory in sociology that empowering the most vulnerable within a society allows for the most effective and sustainable change. Women are considered among the most vulnerable groups affected by HIV/AIDS.

It is noteworthy that a  report on gender and the challenges of HIV/AIDS published by the World Health Organization almost 20 years ago highlights a number of issues which still remain pertinent today. It noted that “one of the most striking features of the response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic…is how few of the policies and programmes we have developed relate to women’s life situations”*. The report also addresses a number of challenges, among them:

• Women are physiologically more vulnerable to HIV than men. AIDS death rates are highest for women in their 20s.
• As society’s traditional care-givers, women carry the main psychosocial and physical burdens of AIDS care. However they have the least control over and access to the resources needed to cope effectively.
• Many ideas and expectations regarding male and female (sexual) behaviour neither encourage men to act responsibly and protect themselves and their partners from infection nor stimulate women to challenge notions of female inferiority and social structures which keep them vulnerable.

Additionally, women in many instances have less negotiating power within a relationship and as such are unable to assert themselves regarding condom use.

As I write this on the advent of World Aids Day 2012, I am reminded of the “Smart, Sexy & Wise” condom ads done by Jamaica’s National HIV/STI Programme (watch it here). Clearly the programme administrators saw the value of targetting women in the promotion of responsible sexual behaviour. The ad however depicts females buying what can be assumed to be male condoms. A step further would be to encourage women to use a female condom or a microbicide. Such a strategy recognizes that the male condom is a male-controlled technology and it takes account of the imbalance in power in sexual interactions that makes it difficult for women to negotiate condom use by providing women with an alternate, woman-initiated technology. 

Women needed to be empowered. But what are the real effects of such efforts? Global non-profit organizations such as CARE believe that the women’s empowerment is key to ending a number of global problems including the spread of HIV/AIDS. Women are central to the family and therefore impact significantly on their wider communities based on the decisions they make. The health of the female population is critical to the development of a country as this  directly affects the health and well-being of communities due to the role women play in the family- the building block of a community.

So, what next? The 23^rd Anniversary of the World Aids Day marks a significant milestone for the event worldwide and the strides it continues to make in raising the level of awareness about the fight against HIV/AIDS. However, it is critical that the role of women be taken into greater consideration by policymakers and national stakeholders if the disease is to be prevented all-together. It is through this empowerment that a greater change can be effected.

Peace & love.

xoxo
Keeta :)

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*“Facing the Challenges of HIV/AIDS and STDS; A Gender-Based Response” published by the World Health Organization, 1995. Available at: http://data.unaids.org/topics/gender/facingchallenges_en.pdf

The Duppy & the Rapture

Last Friday many persons across the world waited to see if the predictions of Harold Camping and the members of his denomination would come true i.e. the beginning of the end of the world with the Rapture (the ascending of God's chosen people to Heaven) on May 21. Persons in every quarter gave their own take on the supposed prediction. On watching the news, I saw reports of persons trying to secure "emergency" baptisms in order to ensure their chances of going to Heaven.

One of Camping's followers, Michael Lewis appeared on the Jamaican programme "Religious Hardtalk" to speak about the prediction. There was one particular belief of the group which I found interesting- that of predestination. Predestination is the doctrine that all events have been willed by God. John Calvin interpreted predestination to mean that God foreordained salvation for His elect church and foreordained eternal damnation for all those who aren't elect. So pretty much, if God hadn't chose you from the beginning there is very little you could do to ensure this would happen. This particular argument of Mr. Lewis, peaked my interest; which is where the first part of the title of this post comes in. 

Recently, I had the pleasure of reading Anthony Winkler's "The Duppy" (pictured above). The book (which I'm sure has been described as blasphemous in some circles) took a rather unorthodox view of the afterlife- there was no Hell, only Heaven. The protagonist, Baps, after having died and gone to heaven became very good friends with God and through this relationship made several realizations about life (no pun intended, really). In Baps' view "old negar" (a term used to describe uncouth Jamaicans) should never be allowed into Heaven. But after a number of occurrences/adventures, God revealed to Baps why there was no Hell. God told Baps that he could not bear for any of his children to feel pain because as they hurt, He too would also hurt. 

Now I won't for a minute pretend to be a theological scholar or dismiss the premises of the Bible. I do however, being an idealist, agree with what I perceive to be the thinking behind Winkler's interpretation of God's treatment of His children. 

My humble opinion? He gives everyone a choice and the outcome of a person's life is not determined as a result of predestination. So while I do not claim that Winkler's interpretation of Heaven is correct (because we'll never know until that time comes) the message behind the story is what I will apply to these last few days; God like any good parent wants the best for His children and through life lessons and the provision of choice seeks to ensure that we make the best determination for our own life............and afterlife.

Peace and love.

xoxo

Keeta :)

Living with Demons.....

This week was an interesting one. Too much happening as usual and very rarely do I ever get the time to process everything till the weekend which is it's own version of hectic (gotta fit in A LOT of sleep *grin*).

But seriously, processing the various things we go through on a daily basis takes up so much energy sometimes it's easier not to bother, sub-consciously or not. But this week I saw first-hand how not processing event can assist you in unwittingly creating "demons". Not literally the ugly, grotesque-looking things that you see crawling out of walls, mirrors and other surfaces in thrillers, but feelings that until you get to a point of actually speaking about them or being faced directly with them through a parallel situation they form their own life-force within your mind.

So I had to deal with that a bit this week. The mean and sometimes very ugly demons can easily consume any peace-of-mind you manage to create for yourself. But an important realisation to make is that despite situations and whatever options you seem to have or not have, is that we do have power. And very often we create our own choices.....and our own demons. I created a demon of my own simply by choosing (seemingly unknowingly at first) to see the negatives first regarding a particular situation. Thankfully, given my appreciation of actually vocalising what is in my head, I was able to identify my demon and figure out how to move ahead. Never easy but no less important.

The picture I chose for this I thought was very apt because sometimes I feel as if there are 3 different persons in one body. And no I'm not referring to schizophrenia or multi-polarity but if an issue become big enough it almost seems to become it's own body.

So my lesson this week is to take the time to process so that I manufacture as little demons as possible for myself.

Peace & Love.

xoxo

Keeta :)

One Photograph......Page of Memories: My 1st Scrapbooking Experience

Today, I had my first scrapbooking session otherwise known as a crop.

Earlier in the week I had been invited to the crop in commemoration of National Scrapbooking Day (May 7), by a friend who's very deeply entrenched in the hobby. I had seen a few of her pages and was taken with this method of preserving memories by adding styling to what would otherwise remain as a simple photograph. Now for those who don't know, I am a painful stationery junkie. OBSESSIVE! I love pens, pencils, paper, books, crayons, markers, paper clips....I could go on (believe me). Because most people who interact with me regularly, know this and it was because of this (I'm sure) that I gained my crop invitation. I've often thought about taking up the hobby but decided against it as I didn't think I would be able to invest as much in it as I would like to, added to the fact that I would have to import everything as unfortunately, Jamaica presently doesn't have stores which cater to such activities.

But today changed my mind completely.

I sat and watched the other 4 ladies at the crop make initial layouts of their pages. There was an abundance of paper, stickers, buttons, stars and a host of other embellishments, and numerous tools. Of course being a beginner I didn't have anything to work with outside of my photograph for scrapping but I was immediately given useful guidance and thrust among the array of beautiful papers and embellishments to choose what I wanted to use. My initial anxieties melted away as I cut the paper, attached the various items to a single purple page and decided on the best styling, which I decided to use to commemorate my BFF's graduation from university (which sharing with her will always be a notable memory).

One person at the crop said "This is pretty much the equivalent of playtime for adults". I have to agree. I inked  a cardboard embellishment (made of chipboard), made ribbon from coloured paper and glued flowers. I'm all for finding the whimsy in life and at the end of my time at the crop I came away with a beautiful page complimented by the other participants, with the new feather in my artistic cap of "being a natural" at scrapbooking coupled with the comment, "we always had a feeling you would be good at this".

I've said it before, in life the number of things which happen on any given day will take up so much of our time. Being able to truly record a memory will allow you to not only think of that particular moment-in-time but of tthe associated emotions and meaning because of the creative efforts put into preserving it.

So after today, I've decided to take up scrapbooking.  I will not think of the reasons that I may be unable to do it but will instead focus on doing what I can, when I can, to develop a hobby I will surely grow to love. And as a special treat, I've posted my first scrapbook page for you all to see and hopefully inspire you to also get up and do that one thing you've been thinking of for the longest time but haven't been certain about.

The purpose of life after all is to find your happy =]

Peace and Love.

xoxo

Keeta :)

Hair today, more ME tomorrow....

Hello lovely people. For those of you who pop in and have read a couple of my recent posts, you would have seen me write about my BFF affectionately known as Morgy.

Last week, she did something which shocked A LOT of people. I damn near mashed up her living room couch using it as a brace for my near fall after almost fainting (yes. a bit dramatic I know) when she showed me the "new" Morgy last week. This is who I have always known (see below):

[This was her at her graduation giving our nutty friend a hug :)]

Last week, this was the Morgy I saw (see below):

Where did all the hair go????!!!!

Now I know what some of you may be thinking, it's just hair. It'll grow back, right? But having sat and thought about it, that wasn't even it. It's that after doing what had been done for so may years, the familiar, the known, the conventional, she decided that she was going to redefine and rebrand herself. I did something similar but my dear friend has raised the bar because she's embracing the natural Jheanell. The one the good Lord put on Earth in original form.Natural hair. Going back to her roots (if you would allow me to use a bad pun). 

Seeing the transformation made me think 2 things:

1. She has serious testicular fortitude (i.e. balls) because I don't think I could have done it and...

2. Chris Rock's documentary "Good Hair" (one of my favourite films)

She received no ends of disagreement and disapproval about her decision prior to going ahead with the chop but that didn't stop her. This was to be a part of a new outlook. Morgy has embraced more of herself, the non-physical side- defining herself in a new way. And yes I heard you earlier, "It's just HAIR!" but for a woman it's often so much more. It may be a major consideration, a defining feature and very often changes made, are those preferably of the subtle or easily reversible kind. My friend in her wisdom decided that she would focus on her, the parts which need the most work and deal with her hair and its changes while dealing with life as a newly independent adult and those changes at whatever pace they may come (because hair, like life, goes through many changes as it progresses as well). New hair was just part of a bigger plan.

So the lesson? If you need to go out on a limb and defy a boundary, or type or definition to contribute to the achievement your own goals of actualization, then (as I had suggested a few posts ago) take a deep breath and, just do it!

Peace & Love

xoxo

Keeta :)

Thoughts from the Palisadoes

[PSA to My Readers:

I've been doing a lot of thinking about other kinds of posts, as the blog has taken on a bit of an advice column feel. I thought this one would allow for a good transition post in-keeping with the direction in which I'm hoping to take "Being Bonita", No worries though; still keeping it positive.]

Today I took a drive out to one of my favourite places.....the Palisadoes strip in Kingston. I try to go out there whenever the opportunity arises as I find it a welcome oasis in the bustle that is Kingston city. (I keep promising myself I will have to actually write and post a blog while out there, as the setting is absolutely inspiring). 

Today, on Good Friday and Earth Day, I thought to myself as I drove out to the section of the beach near the lighthouse that the landscape had changed significantly since last I visited. It was clear that the Ministry of Transport & Works' plans to "improve" infrastructure were in full swing and, despite the previous slow pace characteristic of past similar initiatives, that in the not-too-distant future the strip of land I had become familiar with ever since I was little girl would change considerably.

Today, there were no persons on the Kingston Harbour side of the strip casting lines out to fish or pointing out landmarks which dot the Kingston coastline to friends. I could not see the other side of the strip which faces the Caribbean Sea due to an inordinate number of boulders (or "big rockstone" as we Jamaicans say) lining the road up to the turn for the airport (components of a future storm wall). 

I arrived at my usual spot and thankfully, despite all the changes, much had remained the same with the only noticeable difference being less litter on that section of the beach (which I found heartening). I spent the greater part of my day taking photos (breaking in a new camera and getting shots to serve as future art for my little apartment). I looked at the large ships being guided by smaller tugboats, tiny sand-coloured crabs scuttling across my toes, large waves hitting the expansive shelf of rocks on the shoreline. I felt the sun burn on my recently-turned-paler skin, the spray from the sea as the waves hit rocks and the wind blow through hair, much longer since the last time I visited. I sat on my usual rock (thankfully also still there) and thought about all the things I've ever heard persons philosophize about change. 

So much had changed but yet I was able to find the space with which I had become familiar. I wondered how much longer it would remain the way I knew it. I will agree with those who say that the Palisadoes ought to be better maintained and even improved to achieve the potential that such a space clearly possesses. But yet, I remain reserved as I have come to learn that as good as the intentions we have may be about what to do with our unique spaces, we have managed to maintain a consistent balance between trying to develop in order to achieve potential while still causing problems with the abandon with which we treat the space. And though I'm sure it sounds selfish, I can't say I necessarily agree with putting up a boardwalk to encourage crowds to what is a nearby, welcome space of solitude that persons often use to escape from the numerous concerns of the city. A space already damaged but still ironically hanging on in certain parts because of neglect whether convenient or unavoidable.

I looked back on the numerous photos I took of this favourite space and thought about how the ideas and questions I asked myself about the Palisadoes applied to my life. The question of balance. Balancing decisions aimed at achieving full actualization of potential while avoiding possible damage these decisions may cause and at the same time ensuring that you don't neglect to do the things which won't take as much work or effort. 

Finding balance is very often not easy and takes a good bit of skill.

Thinking on these things...

Peace & Love

xoxo

Keeta :) 

P.S. Please enjoy the photos =]

Just Do Something!

Recently, a friend of mine asked for my thoughts on starting a blog. She had been toying with the idea for a little while and finally decided it would be a good pastime. She wasn't sure what she'd write about, how often she would be able to write (or if she'd feel like it) or even what she would name her blog.

But in-keeping with a piece of advice (which as far as I am concerned Kimora Lee Simmons has made timeless and priceless) if you're not sure what to do, just do something. So she did that. She started with as much as she could at the time.

We all have to do something in life that we have no clue how to start. But the beauty about just starting something will help you figure out what needs to happen and based on the angle from which you approach things, will help you develop a plan on how you will proceed. And note, even if you don't figure things out to the point of developing any plan, it's OK. Remember half of the fun is getting-there.

So my friend is getting there, the blog is still a work in progress but based on what has been done so far, she's doing great and I look forward to more gems of writing by someone who thought she was just trying her hand at something but who it seems is really going to make a statement with her off-the-beaten-track, quirky, honest posts.

[CLICK HERE FOR THE NICENESS!]

So follow her lead and like Nike's famous slogan instructs if you have something to do, Just do it!

Peace & Love

xoxo

Keeta :)