"I could imagine that "sisterhood"/sense of community would be a contributing factor to preventing the spread of HIV."I definitely agree. And while the description of the group notes that support is an important factor for why the groups work, it's still clear that what the funder is most concerned about is that people use protection or abstain or... you get the idea. I wish there was a better way to note the incremental changes (or maybe steps made in a harm reduction model?). Cause my clients are often just not quite yet in a position to make long standing changes as far as protection use. They are too busy worried about more immediate needs like housing and employment. So if I ask for protection and my man gets mad, I'm now scared he'll leave and I need his income. So maybe once they've gotten more stable they'll be ready to demand these changes or just leave the man but where they are at in their lives the concrete changes the funder is looking for just aren't feasible. Again not in the time frame they are expecting the change to
( ... )
Okay, I hung out with friends including truetooneme last night and this was HUGE! You know she is doing sexual education also, and though it's hard for us to believe, no one is doing much on intersectionality within it, at all? We were talking about harm reduction is great-- wearing condoms while you're doing all kinds of stuff because your self-esteem is cr@p and you're being told all kinds of things about your masculinity/femininity as a black/Asian/Latino/Native/Arab/etc. man/woman... I mean, great that you're wearing condoms, but that ain't it. THIS is the kind of thing that is needed.
Cool beans. Do you know who she works for? And what population(s) she serves?
"no one is doing much on intersectionality within it, at all?"In NYC there are some decent interventions that actually do address intersectionality. (Well I dunno if they are specific to NYC, but I know they are being done here). There's another group that's very very similar to mine called SISTA. I have no idea what it stands for, but essentially while my group is (in part) about empowering women and addressing how sexism affects the ability to advocate for your sexual health, SISTA is about that AND tying in cultural factors specific to Black women. Though my org is majority Black, there are some Latina and white women, so I guess they chose FIO over SISTA to be all-inclusive. I've never seen SISTA run, but I hear it's good
( ... )
As someone who's led a really female-centric life that's deep. I know this mindset, but I hadn't really pondered how it can help mess you up in a variety of ways.
I would relate the sisterhood to the broader goals and issues by talking about the possibilities of new, healthy relationships with other women. Maybe they never considered pooling resources and living with female roommates or had a female friend they could crash in an emergency with if things got bad with a male. Those are options to get you out of those stuck situations you mentioned. Also, of course, someone to make you feel sane when a bunch of males are trying to making you feel like there's something wrong with you for standing up for yourself.
Comments 5
That's an awesome story. :)
Reply
Reply
Reply
Cool beans. Do you know who she works for? And what population(s) she serves?
"no one is doing much on intersectionality within it, at all?"In NYC there are some decent interventions that actually do address intersectionality. (Well I dunno if they are specific to NYC, but I know they are being done here). There's another group that's very very similar to mine called SISTA. I have no idea what it stands for, but essentially while my group is (in part) about empowering women and addressing how sexism affects the ability to advocate for your sexual health, SISTA is about that AND tying in cultural factors specific to Black women. Though my org is majority Black, there are some Latina and white women, so I guess they chose FIO over SISTA to be all-inclusive. I've never seen SISTA run, but I hear it's good ( ... )
Reply
I would relate the sisterhood to the broader goals and issues by talking about the possibilities of new, healthy relationships with other women. Maybe they never considered pooling resources and living with female roommates or had a female friend they could crash in an emergency with if things got bad with a male. Those are options to get you out of those stuck situations you mentioned. Also, of course, someone to make you feel sane when a bunch of males are trying to making you feel like there's something wrong with you for standing up for yourself.
Reply
Leave a comment