Gender, Transnational Migration, and Hiv Risk Among the Garinagu of Honduras and New York City
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GENDER, TRANSNATIONAL MIGRATION, AND HIV RISK AMONG THE GARINAGU OF HONDURAS AND NEW YORK CITY By SUZANNE MICHELLE DOLWICK GRIEB A DISSERTATION PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 2009 1 © 2009 Suzanne Michelle Dolwick Grieb 2 To my parents, Frank and Brenda Dolwick 3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The completion of this research would not have been possible without the help and support of numerous people. To these people I am forever grateful. First, I would like to acknowledge my committee chair, Dr. J. Richard Stepp, co-chair, Clarence C. Gravlee, IV, and members, Sharleen Simpson, Abdoulaye Kane, and Dolores James. Each provided support in various ways through the research process, guiding me with their expertise and encouragement. In addition to the support from my committee, many individuals contributed to this research. Raphael Crawford-Marks facilitated contact with HIV/AIDS organization and community workers in Trujillo, Honduras and was a valuable resource and friend. A special thanks is warranted to Jaughna Nielson-Bobbit who provided research assistance in New York City. My research schedule was hectic as a result of my numerous obstetrician appointments and I could not have asked for a more flexible and understanding assistant. She was truly a delight to have working beside me. Adriana Adulez and Rhina Bonilla each spent hours helping me transcribe and translate interviews conducted in Spanish. My Dissertation Support Group (DSG) – Allison Hopkins and Hilary Zarin – diligently read my chapter drafts, providing edits, feedback, and encouragement. My deepest gratitude goes to all of the Garifuna community members in Trujillo and New York City who participated in this research and allowed me access to such personal information. Additionally, many community members and leaders deserve special recognition for taking time from their schedules to assist me. In Trujillo, I would like to give thanks to Marvin Figueroa, Mirabel Miranda, and Kenny Gotay. I also am grateful to my host family, who generously took me in, included me in their activities, and unknowingly provided me with much needed childcare practice. In New York City Mary Ellis, Mirtha Colon, Jerry Castro, James 4 Lovell, Rene Figueroa, and Karina Perry all deserve mention for taking extra time to assist me in various ways. I am humbled by their many acts of kindness. I must also give credit to my family, without which this dissertation could not have been completed. First, to my husband, Ryan, who waited patiently while I traveled, waited patiently while I worked, bought me ice cream when I was stressed, and gave me encouragement when it was needed. Ryan and I were so blessed to have our son, Oliver, during this journey, and he even accompanied me (in utero) during my fieldwork. Having Oliver by my side while writing has allowed me to keep it all in perspective, and for that I thank him. Finally, I was blessed with a childhood filled with travel, and it was through these experiences that I developed a love of cultural diversity. I will forever be in awe of the hard work and selflessness displayed by my parents that enabled me to develop and then later foster this passion through continued travel and education. During the course of this research, my parents also provided unconditional support and upon the birth of Oliver even rearranged their schedules to accompany my childcare needs. There are no amount of words that can express my gratitude for all they have given me. 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.................................................................................................................... 4 LIST OF TABLES................................................................................................................................ 9 LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................................ 11 ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................................ 12 CHAPTER 1 HIV/AIDS, MIGRATION, AND GENDER ............................................................................. 14 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 14 Gender and HIV/AIDS ............................................................................................................... 17 Biological Vulnerabilities of Women ................................................................................. 19 Social Vulnerabilities of Women........................................................................................ 20 Migration ..................................................................................................................................... 22 Migration Theories .............................................................................................................. 22 Migration and Health ........................................................................................................... 28 Summary ...................................................................................................................................... 36 Manuscript Organization ............................................................................................................ 37 2 THE GARINAGU ....................................................................................................................... 42 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 42 Ethnogenesis and Early Life ....................................................................................................... 42 Ethnogenesis of the Black Carib ......................................................................................... 43 Black Caribs on St. Vincent ................................................................................................ 44 Matrifocality and Consanguineal Households........................................................................... 50 Traditional Gender Roles ............................................................................................................ 54 Gender Roles Among the Black Caribs on St. Vincent (pre-1779).................................. 54 Early Garifuna Gender Roles in Central America (1779-1900) ....................................... 56 Gender Roles Among the Garinagu in the 20th Century ................................................... 57 Ethnomedicine ............................................................................................................................. 62 HIV/AIDS among the Garinagu ................................................................................................. 67 Summary ...................................................................................................................................... 72 3 GARIFUNA ON THE MOVE: THE GARINAGU IN HONDURAS AND ABROAD ....... 75 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 75 Garifuna Migration...................................................................................................................... 75 The Garinagu in Honduras.......................................................................................................... 81 Garinagu in New York City........................................................................................................ 86 6 The Garinagu as a Transnational Community ........................................................................... 89 Summary ...................................................................................................................................... 93 4 RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS ................................................................................. 94 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 94 Research Design .......................................................................................................................... 94 Entry into the Community ................................................................................................... 95 Participant Observation ....................................................................................................... 95 Community Interviews ........................................................................................................ 98 Community Leader Interviews ......................................................................................... 102 Data Collection: Survey .................................................................................................... 104 Research Assistant ............................................................................................................. 107 Research Strengths and Limitations ......................................................................................... 107 Ethics in Anthropological Research ......................................................................................... 111 Research Ethics and HIV/AIDS ......................................................................................