R.Esf,Arceing Adolescent Sexuality in the Eastern Carlbbean

SPWGWITH LOT AND HIS CHILDREN: R.ESF,ARCEING ADOLESCENT SEXUALITY IN THE EASTERN CARLBBEAN by Tamil Rainanne Kendall B.&, University of Ottawa, 1995 Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in the School of Communication @Tamil Rainanne Kendall, 2000 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY Jaiiuary, 2000 Al1 rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced in whole or part, by photocopy or other means, without permission of the author. National Library Bibliothéque nationale 1*1 of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395, rue WdGngtm OtîawaON KlAW ChtawaON K1AW canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une Licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant a la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or seii reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in rnicrofonn, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts from it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otheMrise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author' s ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. ABSTRACT Based on my experience researching adolescent sexual health on the Eastern Caribbean island of Anguilla, 1 examine how my subject position, and the social relations 1 experienced in the field, contributed to the identification of adolescent sexual and reproductive health as a research area and the selection of a questionnaire for investigating the topic. 1 also consider how the research process influenced the progression fkom research to dissemination to implementation. Do the research choices and working partnerships we make in heterogeneous comrnunities benefit the social groups we airn to assist or work to their detnment by reinforcing existing social relations? Using Stanley Cohen's concept of moral panic, 1 describe how the economic and culturai histoïy of Anguilla redted in a simultaneous race for economic growth and nostalgia for the past as a moral model. In this context, youth were cast as deviant, and adolescent sexuaiity was described as a crisis. Despite a putative scripturally based consensus on sexual morality, analysis of the social context and the survey findings revealed multiple discourses about sexuality and wide discrepancies between the dominant ideals for sexuality and common senial practices. 1 hypothesized the discourse about adolescent sexuality put foward in the atmosphere of moral panic acted as a bamîer to youth achieving optimal health by discouraging discussion of the gap between sexual ideals and common senial practices, thus supporting the status quo. The survey research 1 undertook ailowed me to disrupt the popular characterization of youth as moraliy compt, and argue for increased sexual health education and services rather than a retum to traditional moraiity as a response to adolescent sexual practices. The research dissemination process opened a space for youth and adults to discuss the sexual culture of Anguilla with reduced fear of social censure. However, the primary research method 1 employed replicated the top-down decision-making culture of Anguilla, and the recornrnendations 1 put foward invested upper managers with the responsibility to bring about change. Expecting current decision-makers to challenge the status quo is counterintuitive. The lesson that can be derived from this case study is that social dynamics that support the desired outcomes mua be built into the research process. DEDICATION The thesis is dedicated to Chantai, for starting me on this joumey. To my mother, Myma, because of your unconditional support and constant encouragement. And to the young Anguillians who showed courage, patience and tenacity and found ways to teil their stones. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1 would iike to thank my cornmittee: Pat Howard for her unfailing diligence and gentle guidance, and Martin Laba. Thanks to Bob Anderson for his continued support and interest, and Andria Scanlan, for her good advice. Sincere appreciation aiso goes to my coUeagues in the School of Communication, and to Stephanie KeUington and Mamie Thorp, for their feedback and Wendship. Findy, endless thanks to d four of my parents for their emotionai and matenal support. TABLE OF CONTENTS .. Approval Page u S.. Abstract LU Dedication iv Acknowledgements v Table of Contents vi List of Figures vuS.. Introduction: Lot's Children 1 Chapter One: The Rescarch Process 5 Needs Assessrnent 5 Pre-Departure Preparation 5 Interviews and Focus Groups 11 Births to Teenage Mot hers 20 Re-Defining the Problem and the Project 22 Survey Methodology 23 Educational Elites, Developrnent and the Lure of "Science" 25 "An Air Conditioned Office" 28 Self Disclosure 29 A Participatory Survey Instrument 34 Research Goals 37 Chapter Two: A Morai Panic Beyond the Periphery, 1650- 1967 The Anguiiiian Revolution, 1967- 1969 Tourisrn and Economic Growth, 1984- 1999 Growth, Nostalgia and Perception of Risk Christianity and Cable Youth Visibility Sexual Boundary Zones Signification Spiral Conclusion vii Chapter Three: The Hypothcsis The Exceptions to the Rule The Rules Anguillian Christianity/Scriptural Interpretation soca United Nations Family Planning Association MPHOP Words and Context A View From Below A View From Above Conclusion Chapter Four: The Strategy The Ideals The Realities Addressing the Gaps Between Ideals and Reaiities Sexual and Reproductive Health Education Knowledge of HIVAIDS Knowledge of Fertility and Contraception Educating for Sexual Planning Communication Channels Parents as Sexuality Educators Youth and the Public Health System Logistics of Service Delivery Perceptions of Service Providers Conclusion Chapter Five: Evaluation Critera One: Validity of the Needs Assessrnent Criteria Two: Fostering Dialogue Creating a Safe Space Re-Defhing the Issues- Deconstructing the Moral Panic Youth in Dialogue Criteria Three: Talk and Action Conclusion Works Cited Appendix 1 List of Figures Figure 1: Births to Teenage Mothers, 1972-1 997... .. .. -. .- - .--. .. .... .. ... ... ... ..... ... .. ... .. .. - ... -20 Figure 2: Cable Subsaibers, 1993- 1998... -. .. .. -. -. , .. -53 INTRODUCTION: LOT'S CHILDREN Du~g1998 and 1999,I spent eight months on the island of Anguilla conducùng research about adolescent sexual and reproductive health and sharing the findings of the research in public cons~ltations.~There, the biblical story of Lot was mentioned when 1 told people 1 was researching adolescent sexuality or asked questions about semal health (Field Notes, September 5, 1998; September 27, 1998). According to this Old Testament story, Yahweh sent two angels to the city of Sodom to investigate rurnours the Sodomites were not Living according to His law. When they arrived in Sodom, the angels met Lot, who insisted on offering them hospitality. That evening, the Sodomites demonstrated their disobedience to Yahweh's law by corning to Lot's home and demanding to have homosemal relations with his guests. Lot proved his righteousness by refusing the request of the men gathered outside his door. The foiiowing day, the angels rewarded Lot by sending him and his family away before they bumed Sodom and the sister city of Gomorrah to the ground. Anguilla was compared by Anguillians to Sodom and Gomorahh. The story was used to point out the existence of "sexual sin" in Anguilla and to argue that Anguillians who participate in sinfûl sexual activity will be punished, while those who maintain Gods law will be saved. SpeciticaiIy, Anguiliians invoked the story of Lot to suggest deviation fiom God's law through homosexuaiity2 would result in punishment in the form of HIVIAIDS. More broadly, the story was deployed to express the logic that sexual transgression (whether homosexuality, infidelity or sex before mamage) will result in jualy deserved punishment. Interested in Anguillians invocation of the story of Lot, I tumed to the text and found it to be an excellent allegory for factors influencing the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents in Anguilla and, retrospectively, for explaining some of the consequences of my position as a foreign researcher: 'The position was an uitemship fiinded through the Canadian International Development Agency and Human Resources and Development Canada and planned by a Canadian non-governmental organization, Organization for Cooperation in Ooerseas Development, in collaboration wvith the Anguillian Ministry of Social Se~ces. 2Thc term "sodomy' to descrii anal sex is a biblical refcrence to the semai practices in ttie city of Sodom. ...ail the men fiom every part of the city of Sodom-both young and old- surrounded the house. They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out so that we can have sex with them." Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him and said, ''No my fiiends. Don't do this wicked thing. Look, 1 have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you Iike with them. But don? do anything to these men, for they have corne under the protection of my roof" "Get out of our way," they replied. And they said, "This fellow came here as an alien, and now he wants to play the judge! We'll treat you worse than them." They kept bringing pressure on Lot and moved forward to break down the door. But the men [angels] inside pullecî Lot back into the house and shut the door. Then they struck the men who were at the door of the house, young and old, with blindness so that they could not find the door. (Genesis, 19: 4-1 1) In my allegory, the mob of Sodomite men represent the common sema1 practices or sexual realities operating in Anguiila. As the father and hoa, Lot stands for Anguillian power-brokers and decision-makers who publicly seek to protect and prornote scripturaüy defined sexual ideals.

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