AIDS AND WOMEN IN BRAZIL - THE EMERGING PROBLEM

This paper compares and problematizes the public discourse on AIDS and sexuality with the actual private discourse of low-income urban women in Brazil. Women's perspectives on sexuality are explored by examinin g what they say about anal sex, virginity, and fidelity and are seen a s approximating culturally scripted ideals for sexual behavior. AIDS d iscourses that arc being proposed by the Brazilian government, Brazili an AIDS activist groups and the women's movement are examined in light of these perspectives. Condom literacy, a central component to the Br azilian AIDS activist campaign, is problematized within the context of low-income women's lives,