by Theresa Dobko

This booklet gives information about women and AIDS. It talks about how you can get AIDS and how you can protect yourself. There is information about different kinds of sex, about drugs and needles, and about having children if you think you might have AIDS. It is for both heterosexual and lesbian women.

Some of the information is very frank. It uses words that some women may find shocking. Other women may be glad to read words that they already know and use. Tutors using this booklet need to think about how comfortable they and their learners will be with different kinds of language. They will need to be able to deal with the many different responses they will get.

Here is an example of the kind of writing in most of the booklet:

"Safer sex starts with talking about sex. You both need to talk about your past. But we cannot always trust our memories."

Here is an example of the kind of writing that may be hard for some women to read:

"VERY RISKY SEX: using a hand in the vagina or anus ("fisting") if you have open cuts, sores or rashes on your hand."

Women may use this booklet as part of a larger discussion about AIDS, about sexuality and about discrimination against lesbians. It would be very useful for women who are working with women around health and sexuality-as long as they feel comfortable and use it with sensitivity.

A review by the Halifax Working Group, Halifax, N.S.