1St Leadership Training on Sexuality and Sexual Health

Course Program

5th Leadership Course on Gender, Sexuality and

Health in Southeast Asia and China

27 August - 15 September 2006

Hanoi, Vietnam

Background

Unprotected, unsafe and unwanted sex is common across Southeast Asia and China, and both practices and outcomes are shaped by numerous structural and contextual factors. Of which, the lack of attention to the linkages between gender, sexuality and health policies and programs is pervasive. Yet only a few local sexuality training programs pay attention to this important gap, due mainly to lack of adequate financial and human resources at the country level. By pooling country-based resources into a collective, region-wide effort, a multi-disciplinary curriculum has been developed that caters to strategically placed individuals working in the field of gender, sexuality and health to offer them integrated, regional and cross-disciplinary perspectives that can enhance the quality of their work.

Objectives

This 19-day leadership course aims to provide the participants with context-specific and gender-sensitive knowledge about sexuality and the linkages between gender, sexuality and health policies and programs in Southeast Asia and China. Special attention will be devoted to exploring how conceptual frameworks, especially gender and sexuality theories, and methodological approaches can be applied to health policy and programs to enhance health outcomes, including sexual and reproductive health in the region. The three main objectives of the course are:

To explore the linkages between gender, sexuality and health within the socio-cultural, economic, political and historical contexts of Southeast Asia and China
To develop critical thinking and contextualized understanding of gender and sexuality as it impacts on health outcomes in the region
To build capacity to apply these perspectives to improve health policies and programs

This regional training course is organized annually, with hosting institution rotating among core members of the Southeast Asia Consortium for Gender, Sexuality and Health. This year’s Leadership course, hosted by Hanoi Medical University (HMU), brings together 22 participants from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Hong Kong who are researchers, program managers and advocates in the field of gender, sexuality and sexual health.

Course Director

Le Minh Giang, MD, MA, ABD (sociomedical sciences/anthropology) - Hanoi Medical University

COURSE CURRICULUM

Week one - Theoretical Perspectives: concepts and frameworks

Arrival Day: 27 August 2006, Sunday
(FOD: Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong)

17:30 – 18:45Informal Dinner and Orientation of the Opening Ceremony

19:15Travel to Hong Ha Theatre by HMU’s van

20:00 – 22:00Formal Opening – Joint Event with Mekong Performing Arts Laboratory 2006 (Please prepare your national uniform or dress)

Day one: 28 August 2006, Monday (FOD: Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong)

09:00 – 09:45Opening

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Dr. Luu Ngoc Hoat – Vice-Rector, Hanoi Medical University (TBC)

Dr. Rosalia Sciortino – Director, Southeast Asia Regional Program,

The Rockefeller Foundation, Regional Office in Bangkok, Thailand

Group Photograph

09:45 – 10:00Break

10:00 – 11:30Introduction of the Participants: background and expectations

11:30 – 12:00Introduction to the Course Structure and House Rules

Le Minh Giang

13:30 – 17:00 Exploring Sex and the Body

Soledad Dalisay and Monruedee Laphimon

We will start the session with Why-Sex-activity that aims to evoke participants’ views on why people have sex. There is more to sex than reproduction. Sex involves multiple subjectivities that are socially and culturally constructed, and this understanding has important implications to sexual and reproductive health and well-being.

Sex is built upon the body. The second part of this session is designed to draw upon personal views and experiences with regard to the ‘gendered body’. An exercise in this part will allow participants to create their visual arts using the body as the centre of attention. The theoretical concept of the gendered body in relation to theories of subjectivity, technology, class, politics, representation, etc., will be discussed. The exercise will examine how the human body is regarded as a locus of sex/gender differences; the social construction of the gendered body; the politics of the gendered body and the ‘natural’.

Suggested Readings:

Pineda, R.V. 2002. The Unbearable Heaviness of My Being. In Body Politics: Essays on Cultural Representations of Women’s Bodies, pp. 171-194.Gender, Reproductive Health and Development Project Book Series.Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press.

Bartky, S.L. 1998. Foucault, Femininity, and the Modernization of Patriarchal Power. In The Politics of Women’s Bodies: Sexuality, Appearance and Behavior, pp. 25 – 45. New York, Oxford University Press

Day Two: 29 August 2006, Tuesday
(FOD: Soledad Dalisay)

9:00 – 12:00Southeast Asia: Placing gender, sexuality and health into context

Rosalia Sciortino

This session will stimulate thinking on how the specific economic, political and historical context of countries in Southeast Asia shapes gender, sexuality and sexual health. Examples from the various countries will be used to point to the importance of contextualizing sexual health. Particular attention will be devoted to the process of regional integration in the Greater Mekong Sub-region to reflect on how changing socio-political and economic conditions also impacts on values, behavior and health systems.

Required Readings:

Wong, Diana. 2000. The Futures of Globalization: A View from Southeast Asia. Southeast Asian Bulletin, Oct. – Nov.

Karim, W. Jahan. 1995. Introduction: Genderising Anthropology in Southeast Asia. In “Male” and “Female” in Developing Southeast Asia, Karim W.J (ed)pp. 11 - 34 Washington D.C.: Berg Publishers.

13:30 – 17:00Mapping Sexual Health and Health Care Systems in the Region

Philip Guest

This session provides a review of sexual health issues in the region. The session places these issues in the context of the health care systems that are in place. Gaps in our understanding of the issues and problems are identified and potential actions designed to improve sexual health are proposed. The session will draw upon the experiences of the professional and personal experiences of individuals to illustrate deficiencies in systems and how these can be overcome.

Required Reading:

Center for Reproductive Rights. 2005.Women of the World: Laws and Policies Affecting their Reproductive Lives, East and Southeast Asia. The Center for Reproductive Rights and ARROW, New York. (Chapter One)

Day Three: 30 August 2006, Wednesday
(FOD: Monruedee Laphimon)

09:00 – 12:00Public Health Approach to Sexual Health and Sexuality

Philip Guest

In this session we discuss how medicine and public health have helped shaped perspectives of sexuality. A brief review of the development of sex and sexuality approaches is provided and the current state of development in the field is assessed. The public health discourse that stresses surveillance and self-regulations of health is critically reviewed and behavioral change models that derive from and provide support for this discourse are introduced

Required Reading:

Behavioral Research Unit. 1996. Behavioral Change—a summary of four major theories: Health Belief Model, AIDS Risk Reduction Model, Stage of Change, Theory of Reasoned Action. Bangkok: AIDSCAP, 1996.

13:30 – 17:00Challenges to Public Health and Bio-Medical Approach

Philip Guest

We examine how public health approaches to sexual health are being challenged by cultural and structural analysis. We discuss how behavioral change models have been applied in sexual health programs and critically discuss how cultural and structural perspectives can help improve our understanding of sexual health and improve sexual health programs.

Required Readings:

Nguyen Vo Thu Huong. 2002. Governing Sex: Medicine and Governmental Intervention in Prostitution. In Gender, Household, State: Doi Moi in Viet Nam, Werner, J and Belanger D (eds.), pp. 129-151. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Southeast Asia Program.

Parker, R. 2001. Sexuality, Culture and Power in HIV/AIDS. Annual Review of Anthropology, volume 30

Day Four: 31 August 2006, Thursday
(FOD: Soledad Dalisay)

09:00 – 12:00Genders in Southeast Asia and China

Michael Tan

An introduction to concepts of gender in Southeast Asia and the way it is embedded in culture, socially defined and learned. Discussions will include the interface of culture and biology in gender, and its implications for public health programs.

Required Reading:

Ngo Thi Ngan Binh. 2004. The Confucian Four Feminine Virtues (tu duc): The Old Versus the New -- Ke thua Versus Phat huy. In Gender Practices in Contemporary Vietnam, Drummond L and Rydstrom H (eds.),pp. 47-73. Singapore: NIAS Press.

Video: Hidden Genders

13:30 – 17:00Sexualities in Southeast Asia and China

Michael Tan

A "deconstruction" of sexualities in Southeast Asia and China as they relate to reproductive and sexual health. We will discuss sexualities in terms of meanings, intentions and "acts", and look at the way it develops in relation to society.

Required Readings:

Nguyen Bich Thuan and Mandy Thomas. 2004. Young Women and Emergent Postsocialist Sensibilities in Contemporary Vietnam.Asian Studies Review 28:133-149.

Mueller, R. D.1996. The Sexuality Connection in Reproductive Health. In Learning About Sexuality: A Practical Beginning. Zeidenstein S and Moore K (eds). pp. 137 - 157. New York: The Population Council and International Women’s Health Coalition

Video: Vanishing Lotus

Day Five: 1 Sept 2006, Friday
(FOD: Monruedee Laphimon)

09:00 – 12:00Gender and Sexuality; Politics and Rights

Michael Tan

An introduction to the power relations that surround gender and sexuality, from the domestic sphere to nation-states and the global community. The session will introduce a rights framework for analyzing these power relations. We will discuss the practical applications that emerge from an understanding the political economy of sexualities.

Required Readings:

Tiefer, L. 2006. Female Sexual Dysfunction: A Case-Study of Disease Mongering and Activist Resistance. PLOSMedicine 3(4):e.178

Lexchin, J. 2006. Bigger and Better: How Pfizer Redefined Erectile Dysfunction. PLOSMedicine 3(4): e.172

13:30 – 17:00Participants have a free afternoon to do reading

Evening

19:00 – 21:00Interaction Dinner with Participants of Mekong Performance Arts Laboratory 2006

Day Six: 2 September 2006, Saturday
VIETNAM NATIONAL DAY

09:00 – 12:00Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (Exhibition: Vietnam During the Subsidy Period i.e. before 1986)

Evening

17:30 – 20:30Field Visit (Full program and instruction to be provided)

A Youth Hang-Out Area in Thanh Nien (Youth) Road
Night Market in Dong Xuan Area, Old Quarter of Hanoi
A “Bia Hoi” (local beer shop) in Hanoi.

Day Seven: 3 September 2006, Sunday
FREE

WEEK TWO - THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES: CONTEXTS AND STRUCTURES

Day Eight: 4September 2006, Monday
(FOD: Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong)

9:00 – 12:00Framing Gender and Sexuality in Southeast Asia and China: Processes and Actors

Le Minh Giang

This session provides an overview of various macro level processes and actors that have significant influences on changing gender and sexuality in the region. Special attention will be given to a number of processes at the regional as well as national levels, such as regionalization, rapid expansion of market economy, structural adjustment including privatization of health care system, and the rise of “development” paradigm. The examination of these processes will help to bring forth a number of actors such as the state, civil societies, religion, media and donors that need to be taken into account in understanding the framing of gender and sexuality agenda in the region.

Require readings:

Lyttleton, C and Amarapibal, A. 2002. Sister Cities and Easy Passage: HIV, Mobility and Economies of Desire in a Thai/Lao Border Zone. Social Science & Medicine 54 (2002): 505-518.

Austria, C S Ruiz. 2004. The Church, the State, and Women’s Bodies in the Context of Religious Fundamentalism in the Philippines. Reproductive Health Matters 12(24): 96 - 103

The images presented and or undertaken by media maps the representation of gender and sexuality of one individual and the society at large. The mainstream media can have a tremendous impact in addressing and redressing gender and sexuality by means of “positive and negative portrayal”. Variety forms of media reports are read/heard/seen by people of diverse backgrounds.

This session will examine the “interconnectivity of mass media and the social construction of gender and sexuality”. The prominent role of media in perpetuating and challenging these constructs will be critically explored via an exercise ‘media images analysis”. The exercise will lead the participants to debates and discussions that center on the role of gender and sexuality in magazines ads, cartoons & comic books, TV commercials, newspapers headlines, internet & websites, music video and so on. Some of the questions for discussion include for examples:

- How are the content produced by media and the messages received by the audiences related with the social location of media creators?

- Whether the present texts are actually sites of resistance or mere manifestations of patriarchal and heterosexual ideologies.

This session will consist of two sub-sessions. The first will lay the ground on how various forms of mainstream media shape & reshape and also perform & re-perform the notions of gender and its impact. The second session will demonstrate how alternative media participate in participatory learning with affected community in establishing a greater understanding of gender and sexuality through art forms.

Required Readings:

Komonbut, R. 2004.Covering the Condom Nation. Inthe collection of reports titled Safe Sex and the Media in Southeast Asia, AIDS Society of the Philippines.

Holmberg, C.B. 1998. Sexualities and Popular Culture.Thousand Oaks, Sage Publications, pp.18-35.

Day Ten: 6 September 2006, Wednesday
(FOD: ) Monruedee Laphimon

9:00 – 12:00Mobility, Sexuality and Health

Muhadjir Darwin, Vanphanom Sychareun, Dang Nguyen Anh

We will discuss the intensity of cross-border and internal migration in the Southeast Asian region and focus on the link between population mobility and sexuality. We will deal with problematic aspects such as women and child trafficking, sex work but also pay attention to sexual cultures and subjectivities of migrants and the communities with which they interact. We will look at current efforts of governments and civil society organizations to provide sexual health services to migrant groups, and the need for regional cooperation among neighboring states.

Required Readings:

Darwin, M and Anna Marie Wattie. 2003. Introduction. In Living on the Edges: Cross-Border Mobility and Sexual Exploitation in the Greater Southeast Asia Sub-Region.Darwin, M (ed), pp. vii – xviii. Yohyakarta: CPPS, 2003

Dang Nguyen Anh. 2003. Cross-Border Migration and Sexuality in Vietnam: Reality and Policy Responses. In Cross-Border Mobility and Sexual Expoitation in the Greater Southeast Asia Sub-Region, pp. 47 – 98.Yohyakarta: CPPS, 2003