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AEGIS European Conference on African Studies
11 - 14 July 2007
African Studies Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Sexual performance and the use of aphrodisiacs among men in urban East Africa.
| Panel |
64. Sexualities in Africa
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| Paper ID | 319 |
| Author(s) |
Silberschmidt, Margrethe
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| Paper |
No paper submitted
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| Abstract | The negative impact of hegemonic features of masculinity in sub-Saharan Africa has been stressed over and over. Moreover, men are blamed for risky sexual behaviour and portrayed as careless and self-centred in their sexual interaction with women. Recent findings from urban East Africa Kampala and Dar es Salaam), however, suggest that a more differentiated approach is needed in order to fully grasp the complexities of male sexual behaviour and men’s relations with women. A sense of failure among many men to pursue traditional ideals of men as heads of household and breadwinners seem to spur an increased cultivation of their skills as lovers and womanisers, and an increased preoccupation with living up to women’s sexual demands. As a result, many men seem to rely increasingly on the use of aphrodisiacs in the shape of herbs and pharmaceutics such as Viagra. Our findings indicate that the growing importance of male sexual performance and men’s use of aphrodisiacs must be understood within the context of an undermining of men’s authority as husbands and material providers in contexts with high unemployment rates, lack of access to cash and economic instability. This raises the question if new ideals of masculinity are replacing traditional ideals, and if so, what are the implications in relation to male involvement in HIV/AIDS prevention efforts.
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