[procaare] HCC:Post Conference discussion -37

[Insight Initiative Team <insight@hdnet.org>]

HCC: Post Conference discussion - 37
- HDN Key Correspondents/Rapporteur Team,Thailand
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Men can do it too!

The conference has comprehensively covered issues on women, children and families;
however, the underlying gender issues that underscore so much of prevention discourse and
programming are not highlighted in the HCC agenda here. This neglects important issues
concerning women, but also the UNAIDS theme of 'Men Making a Difference' seems to barely
rate a mention as well. The chairperson, Summa Mehta, of the session 'Addressing Gender
Concerns in HIV/AIDS,'clearly stated that 'gender is complex', adding that male and female
roles are determined by the different expectations of cultures and societies.

However, sometimes we have notions that do not differ between biologically and socially
determined roles, with some arguing that women are biologically determined to be carers
and that men could not take on such a role. A question from the floor suggested as much.
Such attitudes are contradicted by experiences elsewhere, such as in Thailand. While women
have generally taken on the burden of primary carers men have also played their part.
Chanson Thaiyanto, an HIV positive woman in Northern Thailand who presented in the
'Addressing Gender Concerns' session did not appear to see gender as an issue in who is
the caregiver. While admitting that women probably do most of the caring men are certainly
involved, she stated, either as primary caregivers, or in other support roles.

A Cambodian presenter, the director of Khmer HIV/AIDS NGO Alliance (KHANA) in Cambodia,
also confirmed that men could be involved in support roles for HIV positive people. Ms Pok
saw this as mainly an outcome of the impact of the epidemic on changes in men's roles. And
it no doubt is, for despite the epidemic continuing to rage throughout the world there are
many instances of men changing their behavior as a response to the epidemic, and partly as
a response to some women having a stronger voice. It is no doubt likely that many men need
the confrontation of a disaster to reflect on their role, and make changes in their
behavior. However, this should not lead us back into the idea of a biological determinism
for men that naturally inhibits them having the capacity for caring for the ill and dying.

Ms Pok echoes other voices in the conference saying that there should be more
encouragement for men to take on a role in caring. Summa Mehta is one of those voices, but
at the policy level she feels this is not recognized, suggesting that some governments are
only beginning to acknowledge the AIDS problem, let alone the gender problem, or men
taking on carer roles. Encouraging men to play a greater role in care and support is
acknowledging the extra burden, and the expectations, on women, and thus can help to ease
their burden.

HDN Key Correspondent Team
Rapporteur Team
E-mail: correspondents@hdnet.org

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The Insight Initiative Project is managed by Health & Development Networks (HDN) in
collaboration with the Thailand Red Cross Society, the World Health Organization and the
Royal Thailand Government, with financial support from AusAid and UNAIDS.

For more information about this project (the 'Insight Initiative'), visit the HDN website
at: http://www.hdnet.org

Fifth International Conference on Home and Community Care for Persons Living with HIV/AIDS
Chiang Mai, Thailand - 17-20 December 2001
Website: http://www.hiv2001.com


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