Anger swirls over headline implying black women don’t want to use protection

Some South Africans are hopping mad over The Star‘s controversial headline, implying that black women do not want to use condoms.

The article, which highlighted the higher prevalence of HIV infection among South African women compared to men, suggested that black women are more likely to refuse condoms during sexual intercourse.

The publication cited a 2022 study into the HIV/AIDS epidemic, conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council, as its source.

“(HIV) prevalence was nearly twice as high among women (20%) compared with men (12%), meaning that black women were more likely to refuse condoms” wrote the newspaper.

Various quarters have slammed the statement as irresponsible, with EFF National Spokesperson, Sinawo Tambo, cautioning the newspaper against using degrading stereotypes.

Some social media users have lamented the standard of journalism at the newspaper, while others are concerned about what they perceive as the continued stigmatisation of black women.

can't believe The Star newspaper – once a lodestar of the journalism profession – just laid their editorial msojoni bare like that on the from page.

— Gobingca (@fumikayi1) November 28, 2023

Riiight, if the high prevalence of HIV in young black women is caused by high levels of sexual violence against them it’s ok, but it’s not acceptable to attribute it to any reluctance to use a condom, because that is racist. 👍

— Richard Spoor (@Richard_Spoor) November 28, 2023

@IqbalSurve your journalist Kailene Pillay wrote an article saying the prevelence of HIV among black women means they are likely to refuse condom. How did she come up to this conclusion? Is this not racism by Indias that people are talking about? pic.twitter.com/d2VhitLuuM

— Matiko (@matiko256) November 29, 2023

The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in black women could be associated with men having multiple sexual partners and them then being the carriers and spreaders of the virus.

But, Black women who don’t want condoms.

This is absolute gutter mentality that seeks to continue stigmatisation! https://t.co/dOKl348sVa pic.twitter.com/uE59e8Ule2

— Lwazilwaphesheya (@lwaphesheya_k) November 28, 2023

@TheStar_news was the HIV research cited in your article by @kailenepillay only done on black people? As for the “Black women don’t want condoms” headline, what is that? For journalists I would think you had more clever ways to write up an attractive headline. Le mborile shem!

— nthabiseng mosia (@nthabim) November 28, 2023

 The newspaper has apologised for what it’s termed as an insensitive headline.

“We have inadvertently reinforced a particular form of bias and stereotypes that continues to plague our society and that we have to work hard to dispel.”