Thursday, February 5, 1998
Therapist studies African American female sexuality
HIV: ‘Stolen Women’ explores the community’s struggles with
oppression, stigmatism
By Kathryn Combs
Daily Bruin Staff
After over 25 years of experience as a sex therapist, Gail E.
Wyatt explores the origins of African American female sexuality in
a book titled "Stolen Women."
Wyatt, a professor of psychiatry in the UCLA School of Medicine,
documents the psychological and social forces shaping African
American female sexuality, and how this contributes to the
prevalence of AIDS in the African American community.
Wyatt, the first licensed African American female psychologist
in California, is a sex therapist with a private practice focused
on sex-related relationship issues, such as the sexuality of ethnic
groups.
"Black female sexuality is something that we have very little
research on," Wyatt said.
"And most of what we know is based on very poor, inner-city
women. Many generalizations are made about their sexual activities,
as if all African American women had the same experiences," Wyatt
said.
In researching the topic, "I wanted to know what was healthy
about black women’s sexuality, along with what they needed to
change, Wyatt said.
"Stolen Women," published in August 1997, explores stereotypes
created by American society and how these perceptions create
particular sexual behavior.
"It was my intention to get a better understanding, not only of
African American sexuality, but to go further in describing the
differences (and to) understand what some of the factors are that
influence types of behavior." she said.
Through slavery, African American females have been subject to
both sexual oppression and exploitation, said Wyatt, which leads to
differing cultural attitudes about sex.
Wyatt added the media contributes to these negative social
impressions about African American women.
"High rates of unintended pregnancies, children born outside of
committed relationships, abortions, sexually transmitted diseases
and HIV/AIDS cases may give the impression that black women cannot
control their sexuality."
"Black women are assumed to be one dimensional characters –
always interested in sex, regardless of the circumstances and
consequences," Wyatt said in a previous interview.
Reasons for some of these patterns, Wyatt argues, have to do
with cultural values, lack of information, and poverty affecting
black women throughout adulthood.
"Black female sexuality is far more complicated that that of
other groups because it reflects a combination of sexual behaviors,
cultural beliefs and practices that black women have encountered in
America as slaves," Wyatt said.
She added that the media has been very influential in
reinforcing these images.
"Negative messages about black women are provided in a steady
dose and can be highly influential for young black girls and teens
who are grappling with their identity," Wyatt said.
"It’s easier for them to see and emulate a negative stereotype
than it is for them to find a positive and sexually responsible
role model today."
She hypothesizes this may contribute to the overall number of
HIV and AIDS cases in the African American community.
"African American women are one of the fastest rising groups
that are being diagnosed with AIDS," Wyatt said.
Concurring, Dr. Julie Axelrod, project director for the UCLA
Women and Family Project, said that 59 percent of cases reported in
the United States in 1996 were African American women.
In contrast, in the same year 21percent of reported cases were
white and non-white females while 19 percent were Latino.
"AIDS is the leading cause of death in African American women
from ages 22 to 44," said Deborah Wafer, a nurse practitioner with
the UCLA CARE clinic. She added this is also true about African
American males in this age group.
"When HIV started, many people referred to it as a white gay
male disease," Wafer said.
"A lot of people don’t know that they are at risk and a lot of
people still think that AIDS is largely related to being gay and
taking drugs," Wafer said.
"We have a lot of work to do to change perceptions, but first we
need to change how we think about ourselves," Wyatt concluded.
John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
Dr. Elizabeth Wyatt is the author of "Stolen Women."