Putting Risk in Perspective: Black Teenage Lives in the Era of AIDS. - book reviews

Adolescence, Summer, 1999

WHITE, Renee T. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 1999. 232pp. $17.95 (p), $55.00 (h).

Today young adults are contracting HIV more rapidly than virtually any period during the past two decades. Young women, particularly those who are black and Latina, are bearing the brunt of this "new wave" of infection. Putting Risk in Perspective explores the many factors associated with HIV infection among young black women. HIV infection often occurs as a result of high-risk behavior. Understanding what causes a young woman to take sexual and reproductive risks requires a consideration of the kinds of life issues she faces. Drawing on ethnographic study and interviews, White introduces to the reader many young women who are dealing with economic pressures, family relationships, dating and courtship, intimate relationship issues, and questions of sexual identity. These along with the mythology surrounding HIV and AIDS - and knowledge about contraception - influence whether or not a black teenager will engage in risky activity. This book shows why the fight against AIDS must incorporate a commitment to improving the social and economic opportunities available to young black women.