Medical professionals give statistics without understanding why the herpes virus is spreading. Let us look at some other issues that may lead to Black women getting herpes at a higher rate than women of other races. I would hope we would stop assuming that Black women have more reckless, causal sex and more partners than white women. Let us consider the fact that Black men are not being circumcised on a consistent, religious and health basis like men from other races/cultures. We know that men who are not circumcised experience more STDs and have a higher risk for contracting HIV. Yet, many Black men from the Caribbean and African are not circumcised and this increases their chances of getting and spreading STDs, including herpes and HIV to Black women at an alarming rate.
Black men are also taught that a woman asking him to use a condom is a reflection of mistrust on the part of the woman towards him. Black men tend to not see his female partner as having sexual rights to remain STD free. Some Black men are raised by their fathers that a real man dominates and dictates the direction of the relationship, including the use of safer sex practices, unlike White men who are raised to negotiate and respect the women’s sexual rights and preferences.
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