(B)order(s) Aids review 2011

Abstract

This Review reflects on the borders that have been placed around sexual identity, sexual behaviour and sexuality. It also reflects on the need for sexual order in the dominant hetronormative discourse of most societies, where heterosexuality is deemed to be the norm and all other sexual identities and practices the exception to this rule, to be tolerated, albeit in a strained and tense way. South Africa has a unique constitution that protects sexual preference and the expression of sexual identity but despite that, the accepted value that society wishes to confirm is that of the heterosexual, nuclear family. While this Review was being written and researched in South Africa an extraordinary number of 'sexual attacks' took place. There was a spate of 'corrective rapes' of lesbian women, the abuse of young women wearing miniskirts, the on-going abduction and abuse of children, an increase in trafficking and the sex trade, and calls to strengthen 'family values' and to raise the profile of the moral regeneration movement.