Abstract
This chapter will examine the largely unexplored relationship between women’s (hetero)sexual lives and their well-being. Put bluntly, it will ask whether sex with men is good for women’s health. Too often feminists and non-feminists alike have buried the health implications of women’s sexual activity in a discussion of issues related to birth control and childbearing. This chapter will put the spotlight on sexual activity itself as an important factor that can either enhance or reduce women’s well-being.
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Further Reading
Berer, M. and Ray, S. (1993) Women and HIV/AIDS: an international resource book (London: Pandora). A unique and invaluable book for anyone interested and/or involved in women and HIV/AIDS issues. It brings together material from a wide range of both published and unpublished sources providing a world view of both problems and potential in this very difficult area. The guide to groups and resources is excellent.
Germain, A., Holmes, K., Piot, P. and Wasserheit, J. (1992) Reproductive Tract Infections: global report and priorities for women’s reproductive health (New York: Plenum Press). An outstanding collection of articles on a much ignored topic. This book includes clinical, epidemiological, social and economic observations on reproductive tract infections and provides valuable case studies from a number of third world countries.
Kelly, L. (1988) Surviving Sexual Violence (Oxford: Polity Press). A study that aims to ‘give voice’ to a group of British women who have survived sexual violence. It also includes an illuminating discussion of some of the theoretical and methodological problems of research of this kind.
Kurth, A. (ed.) (1993) Until the Cure: caring for women with HIV (London and New Haven: Yale University Press). Based on the US experience, this is an important reference book for people working on the front lines with women living with HIV disease. It offers succinct and valuable information as well as a vision of best practice in helping women to cope in the absence of a cure.
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© 1995 Lesley Doyal
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Doyal, L. (1995). Safe Sex?. In: What Makes Women Sick. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-24030-2_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-24030-2_3
Publisher Name: Palgrave, London
Print ISBN: 978-0-333-54205-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-24030-2
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