Issues of sexuality are considered taboo in African culture and are not discussed. Even now, the majority of parents and leaders won’t speak openly with young people about relationships, sex, or AIDS. Young people feel they have no one to talk to and are forced to learn “the hard way” through firsthand experience.

Throughout South Africa, “AIDS” is still largely an unspeakable term. To say it is to acknowledge it, and to acknowledge it is to give it power, make it real. Culturally, an ignored problem is not a problem at all.

Because of a lack of understanding about HIV/AIDS, there is still much stigma connected to the disease. The shame attached to AIDS keeps people silent and scares them away from finding out their status. They would rather not know their status than face the harsh reality of knowing they are HIV+. Those who do know they are HIV+ are often hesitant to seek out treatment as it will cause others in the community to know. Typically, people are so shamed by it, that they would rather die from AIDS than seek out treatment.

In South Africa, only one-third of those who have revealed their HIV+ status received a supportive response in their communities. One in ten said they were met with outright hostility and rejection.

Infidelity is regarded as a man’s inalienable right, and women cannot refuse a man who wants to have sex with her. These deep-rooted cultural beliefs have led to an acceptance of promiscuity and adultery, and a high rate of rape. It is also culturally unacceptable for a woman to ask her partner to use a condom. Virility is prized and valued by African men; wearing a condom is considered to be emasculating. Women are often abused for even suggesting the use of a condom.

Because of the high levels of poverty throughout South Africa, many girls trade sex as currency, exchanging it for cell phones, money, or clothing. Feeling hopeless and as though there isn’t another way out, a girl will readily accept when a man tells her he will buy her nice things in exchange for sleeping with him.

The spirit of hopelessness that prevails in South Africa is also a factor in the continued spread of HIV/AIDS. Young women have said, “We know we will die from AIDS if we continue sleeping around, but we don’t have a future anyway so we might as well have fun now.” It is a travesty to see so much potential going to waste simply because young people are blinded from seeing the purpose God has for their lives.