AIDS amoung South African Indians

[Guest guest]

S. Africa row over 'fat, unsexy' Indian 'slobs'

The Asian Age, 8th December, 2001-New Delhi

Durban: Stereotyping of South Africa Indian women as " fat, unsexy slobs who

dress badly " has angered them and kicked up a row in the country. The furore

started when a newspaper, Sunday Tribune, quoted a few men who were asked why

they had contracted AIDS. The report quoted the men as saying that their South

Africa Indian wives failed to " turn (them) on " in bed. The report quoted them as

saying that South Africa Indian women were " fat, dirty slobs " who dressed badly

and wore " granny panties. " The Tribune article generalized the issue to the

extent that scores of South Africa Indian women have reacted over the past

fortnight in many newspapers and radio programmes.

They claim the dignity of Indian women has been impaired, and that the men were

using excuses to highlight further their failure to take responsibility for the

increasing incidence of HIV/AIDS in the South Africa Indian community, which

until recently was believed to have the lowest incidence of the disease because

of cultural taboos on infidelity. South Africa has one of the highest HIV

infection rates in the world, and Indians affected.

By it have only recently begun to come out of the closet about it. Families of

victims have been hiding the fact for fear of isolation by community members.

The controversy started after Emmanuel-Bhagirithi of the Newlands West

AIDS Support Group disclosed why Indian men are looking for pleasure elsewhere

than in a long list of derogatory remarks allegedly made by men who had sought

counselling with her service, Emmanuel-Bhagirithi said there was a desperate

need " for sex education in the Indian community.

The comments allegedly made by the men refer to untidiness, sloppy dressing,

poor personal hygiene and a lack of sex education. " My wife comes to bed with

greasy, oily hair and bad breath and that is a direct turn-off. So it is not my

fault when I am forced to visit prostitutes and call girls, " one husband said.

" I like to kiss a clean mouth. I like a good-smelling perfume. The magic is gone

and she is there basically to cook for me, iron my clothes and take care of my

children. "

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Jagdish Harsh ( jharsh@... )

François-Xavier Bagnoud (INDIA) ( www.fxb.org )

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