Sexuality
Development usually treats sexuality as a problem: over-population, sexually transmitted disease, or sexual violence in the home and as a weapon of war. The images that come with any mention of the subject are those of risk and danger, disease and death. This focus well describes some of the consequences of the disregard for sexual rights that exists the world over. There has been a recent emphasis on criminalising non-normative sexuality and a rise in homophobic violence in several places in the world. However, focusing merely upon this negativity generates fear and disempowerment, and discourages us from seeing how we might be able to change our situations.
Rather than focusing on pain, harm and wrongs, a more positive, pleasure-oriented, view of sexuality offers an entirely different set of entry points for work to make sexual rights real. Similarly, broadening the areas within law, development policy and practice in which sexuality is considered is an increasingly crucial area of engagement. Understanding the relationship between sexual rights and poverty illustrates the need for aid policies and poverty alleviation efforts that account for sexuality and examine unspoken assumptions and exclusions.
Across the Institute, we currently support research and communications aimed at rethinking the relationship between sexuality, rights and development and building stronger links between people in different contexts working to realize their sexual rights. Collaborating closely with established networks and movements, our approach to protecting and respecting rights are based on strategies drawn from local communities that are most affected. Much of this theme’s activity is organised through the IDS Sexuality and Development Programme and the Sexuality, Poverty and Law Programme.
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akshay khanna - Research Fellow
- Participation Power and Social Change
- T: +44 (0)1273 915863
- E: a.khanna@ids.ac.uk
Elizabeth Mills - Research Fellow
- Knowledge Technology and Society
- T: +44 (0)1273 915705
- E: e.mills@ids.ac.uk
Jerker Edstrom - Research Fellow
- Participation Power and Social Change
- T: +44 (0)1273 915672
- E: j.edstrom@ids.ac.uk
Linda Waldman - Research Fellow and Team Leader
- Knowledge Technology and Society
- T: +44 (0)1273 915685
- E: l.waldman@ids.ac.uk
Maysa Shqerat - Dphil student
More details
Stephen Wood - Team Administrative Coordinator
- Participation Power and Social Change
- T: +44 (0)1273 915741
- E: s.wood@ids.ac.uk
Tessa Lewin - Research Officer
- Participation Power and Social Change
- T: +44 (0)1273 915736
- E: t.lewin@ids.ac.uk
Pathways of Women's Empowerment Research Programme Consortium
Pathways is a research and communication programme which seeks to discover where women are achieving real gains despite or because of policy and practice. It looks at how this has happened, and aims to make these pathways visible so that we can build on these revealed successes. More details
Sexuality and Development Programme (2007-11)
Supporting the realisation of sexual rights and access to basic services for those facing poverty and injustice More details
Undressing Patriarchy: Redressing Inequalities
Patriarchy may be seen as an old-fashioned term with little relevance to current work on gender, yet these kinds of questions motivated participants to get excited about the notion of ‘Undressing Patriarchy’ and inspired them to draft background papers and to travel across the world to take part in this conversation. More details
Sexuality and Development Programme: An Annotated Bibliography
This is an annotated bibliography that has been put together by the IDS Sexuality and Development Programme. More details
From Sex Work to Entertainment and Trafficking: Implications of a Paradigm Shift for Sexuality, Law and Activism in Cambodia
This case study describes and examines the impact of the changes brought about by the new legislation in Cambodia against sex work. More details
Policy Audit: Social Protection Policies and Urban Poor LBTs in the Philippines
LGBT discourses worldwide have tended to focus on marriage equality at the expense of other equally pressing but sometimes ‘less sexy’ concerns such as gender-based discrimination and violence, and poverty among sexual minorities. More details
Development, Discourse and Law: Transgender and Same-Sex Sexualities in Nepal
This report presents research conducted in Nepal between November 2012 and January 2013 aimed at exploring the legal, social and economic context pertaining to sexual and gender minority rights. More details
Sexuality and the Economy in China
This publication examines the changing relationships between sex and money in contemporary China. Factors such as marriage or other forms of sexual expression still impact upon access to resources, whilst financial and economic status impacts dramatically upon access to sex and partners, as well as opportunities for pleasure and sexual expression. More details
Politically Motivated Sexual Assault and the Law in Violent Transitions: A Case Study from Egypt
This case study is about the use of sexual violence against women and men in order to deter the opposition from engaging in protests and demonstrations in a context of a country in transition, Egypt. More details
A Progressive Constitution Meets Lived Reality: Sexuality and the Law in South Africa
This paper examines two cases of homophobic hate crime in post-apartheid South Africa. It illuminates how activists have used the legal system to address the violence faced by many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or intersex (LGBTQI) South Africans. More details
Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights of Women Living with HIV in South Africa
South Africa's constitutional and legal framework reflects the country's commitment to women's Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in line with international commitments. Nevertheless, women's rights are still abused and overlooked. More details
Islam, Sexual Diversity and Access to Health Services
In the Asian region, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Maldives, Malaysia and Indonesia have a majority Muslim population. Islam, in essence, does not condemn anyone due to sexual orientation, and the Quran does not prescribe punishments for homosexuality. More details
Sex Work and its Linkages with Informal Labour Markets in India
Based on the results of the First Pan India Survey of Female Sex Workers (n=3000), this paper positions sex work within the broader spectrum of informal labour markets that women engage with in India. More details
Mobilising Men in Practice: Challenging Sexual and Gender-based Violence in Institutional Settings
Gender inequalities, and the violence that maintains them, are not simply a matter of individuals and their behaviours; they are maintained by the social, economic and political institutions that structure all of our lives. More details
Politicising Masculinities: Beyond the Personal
During 15–18 October 2007, a diverse mix of people came together in Dakar, Senegal, to debate issues of men, gender and power: unconventional practical academics, open-minded policymakers, reflective practitioners and activists. It was a unique gathering and offered a unique opportunity – to inform and inspire a greater engagement by men in the struggle for gender justice and broader social change. More details
Sexuality and Empowerment: An Intimate Connection
This policy paper demonstrates why sexuality is so important for women’s empowerment, drawing on evidence generated by research carried out by the Pathways of Women’s Empowerment RPC and collaborative initiatives with the DFID-funded IDS Sexuality and Development Programme. More details
Bringing Together Pleasure and Politics: Sexuality Workshops in Rural India
This paper shares the learnings that emerged from the ‘Sexuality and Us’ training programme, run by the NGO Nirantar. More details
Bringing Together Pleasure and Politics: Sexuality Workshops in Rural India
What are the linkages between sexuality and violence against women - beyond sexual violence? Do poor rural women want to talk about sex? More details
Mobile Love Videos Make Me Feel Healthy: Rethinking ICTs for Development
Development discourse tends to limit attention to the contribution of information and communications technologies (ICTs) to economic and educational empowerment, largely ignoring other potential areas for empowerment. More details
Mobile Love Videos Make me Feel Healthy: Rethinking ICTs in Development
In the ICTs for Development discourse, ICTs are positioned as tools and processes to fight poverty and facilitate empowerment. More details
Poverty and Sexuality: What are the connections?
Few studies and reports examine the relationship between poverty and the denial of sexual rights. However, an emerging literature by researchers, activists and organisations shows that in many cases, poor people are more vulnerable to abuses of sexual rights, and that such abuses can entrench poverty. More details
