What Works for Women and Girls

Condom use is an example of this. Women’s “inability to negotiate [condom use] is closelylinked with women’s inferior economic situation: women’s frequent dependency on menrenders them more likely to fear abandonment and the destitution that might ensue as a resultof confronting or leaving their partners” (Mane et al., 2001: 10). With financial independence,women are better able to negotiate protective behaviors. Women around the world describeeconomic dependence on men. In the words of a sex worker in India, “I used to think why Ishould live such a horrible life with him. But I know how difficult it is to survive without anysupport” (Panchanadeswaran et al., 2008).The International Community of Women (ICW) network has found that “the mostcommonly expressed need from women in sub-Saharan Africa is support and training onestablishing income-generating projects in the hope that they can earn income which willalleviate the difficulties they face in their day to day lives” (Manchester, 2004: 95). As oneHIV-positive woman from Cameroon put it: “We have to look for ways and means to get out ofthis abyss. Rather than seek alms we must look for an honest livelihood” (ICW, 2000: 11, citedin Manchester, 2004).Economic empowerment of women and girls requires that they have access to vocationaltraining, and opportunities to develop practical and business skills. Women also need access tofinancial resources to support the establishment of small businesses. The loans through microfinanceprograms are often very small “…and would more accurately be viewed as increasingthe ability of households to survive rather than as ‘economic empowerment’….” (Dworkin andBlakenship, 2009: 465). But skill sets taught by microfinance programs, such as assertiveness,recognition of gender norms, etc. may help women negotiate safer sex (Dworkin andBlakenship, 2009).Finally, in some countries, women (and men) living with HIV face employment discriminationbecause of their HIV status. For example, some employers require HIV testing as acondition of employment, while others have abused the employment rights of workers whotest positive (Human Rights Watch, 2004a; CHANGE, 2009). Laws to protect PLHAs, especiallywomen, from employment and other forms of discrimination must also be enactedand enforced. [See also 11C. Transforming Legal Norms to Empower Women, including Marriage,Inheritance and Property Rights]318 CHAPTER 11 STRENGTHENING THE ENABLING ENVIRONMENT