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Interview with Shannon, 16 - 17, White British, working class, Roman Catholic. Women, Risk and Aids Project, Manchester, 1989. Anonymised version including fieldnotes (Ref: NMC08)

dataset
posted on 2020-03-04, 11:10 authored by Rachel ThomsonRachel Thomson
This interview is part of the Women, Risk and Aids Project (1989-90) archive which was created as part of the Reanimating Data Project (2018-20).

Anonymised transcript of an interview with Shannon, who is completing a Pre-health course for nursing, an ambition she has had since the age of six. She has largely enjoyed her geriatrics placement. She has a positive relationship with her mother, an Equal Opportunities admin worker, who she feels able to discuss questions she has around Sex Education with. The Sex Education she received through school was typically biological, covering STI's, conception and contraceptive methods, rather than any emotional aspects of sex or relationships. Teachers read information from books, and one supply teacher in particular was deemed particularly useless at answering any questions students may have had. Shannon is quite knowledgeable about AIDS risk and protection, both through programmes and pamphlets about it and conversations with her mother. She feels there is less stigma about AIDS and gay men nowadays. Safe-sex is considered sex with condoms, and not engaging in casual sex or one-night stands. Shannon has had romantic relationships, but no sexual experiences as yet, but does feel she could be assertive and informed with regard to using contraception and STI protection. She feels women are typically expected to bear the brunt of responsibility when it comes to using contraception. She doesn't think she would be at risk of AIDS when she does become sexually active, and believes those who are 'promiscuous' are most at risk. She does not feel any pressure from her girlfriends to lose her virginity, but does mention ideas around gender and sexual reputation. Shannon thinks people her age are too young to have babies and would miss out on social aspects of being a teenager, and has no qualms with women having abortions (whether due to contraception failure or in cases of rape).

Funding

ES/R009538/1

History

Spatial

Greater Manchester, UK

Temporal

1989

Identifier

NMC08/O

Relation

NMC08/C

Creator

Women, Risk and Aids Project (WRAP, 1989-90)

Publisher

The Reanimating Data Project (2018-20)

Date

1989-05-17