Promoters of promiscuity or safer sex? : Norwegian Church Aid and the transfer of condoms to South Africa and Guatemala

Abstract

This thesis deals with the problem of technology transfer and how technologies are not neutral but are interpretatively flexible. They are transferred with scripts. Scripts contain prescriptions of potential users, the technology, its use and mode of usage. When transferred to a new setting, there is no obvious way of reading a script. The script is confronted with the potential users and subsequently rendered real or unreal through a process of de-scription. HIV/AIDS has become a global development and humanitarian disaster with the majority of infections occurring in less developed countries. Trying to overcome the spread of this disease, the global society implements relief measures where technologies, such as condoms are deemed to be promising solutions to the problem. Seeing the extent of HIV/AIDS, the issue of condoms has increased in controversy. This is especially due to the opposition of condom usage by many religious enclaves. With its history of sexual activity, condoms are by organisations such as Norwegian Church Aid considered a tool for safer sex, yet they are interpreted differently by actors such as the Catholic Church. The latter regards condoms as promoters of promiscuity and foeticide. This thesis looks at how Norwegian Church Aid and three partner organisations in Guatemala and South Africa regard condoms and how they define the potential users of condoms.