Source:Population Council This Manual aims to promote critical reflection among young women to recognize and understand how gender normative attitudes and behaviors affect their everyday lives and can result in increasing their vulnerability to HIV and other reproductive health problems.
This training initiative provides a space to young women and girls to question and challenge existing inequitable gender norms; promote positive constructs of gender and identity; improve their understanding about their body, their feelings and sexuality; and promote sexual and reproductive health. In this Manual, HIV prevention is addressed within the larger framework of gender construct and relationships. Activities discussed in the Manual are organized around five key themes: (1) gender and identity; (2) sexuality, reproductive health and rights; (3) violence; (4) motherhood and care-giving; and (5) preventing and living with HIV and AIDS. The Manual includes practical exercises that were developed through group educational programs conducted by young women leaders to engage their peers in critically examining andthinking about these issues.