Abstract

ANZORENA, Claudia. Public policies in Mendoza: expected sexualities, invisible sexualities, and excluded sexualities. Cuad. Fac. Humanid. Cienc. Soc., Univ. Nac. Jujuy [online]. 2006, n.31, pp.283-300. ISSN 1668-8104.

This article tries to open the debate about limits and possibilities of public policies related to sexuality, especially sexual and reproductive policies towards women. Based on theoretical and field research, the aim of this article is to reflect about the idea of sexuality like equivalence to procreation and heterosexuality, which appears in sexual and reproductive policies implements by some government organisms and programs in Mendoza (Argentina), since 1988. This debate is necessary because these policies, even though many are positive, reaffirm the equivalence "women=mother", "sexuality=heterosexuality", operating in Government and in society. These policies, therefore subsume sexuality to procreation and to health and disease processes, simultaneously silencing (if not condemn) the sexual conducts and sexual practices that deviate from maternity and heterosexuality. Government takes control on women's sexualities with their laws and health services that regulate the reproductive capacities, prohibit the abortion, and prevent VIH-AIDS and sexual transmission diseases. This control has more incidence on poor women because of their impossibility to access to their rights on their own. The ambiguity of these policies lies in the fact that, while they extend access to contraception, they exclude or invisibilize sexual orientations and practices not adapted to the accepted norms.

Keywords : Government; Public policies; Sexual and reproductive health; Sexuality/ies.

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