Boo"R~views 101
drastically changed the course of the history of the Africans themselves. Their
societies were sent down an exploitative path in which they have remained even
afterpolitical independence. When we speak of capitalist penetration, we are going
even further, beyond the imperialist phase" (p 178).
Reviewed by Thomas Deve, Editorial Assistant, Sapes Trust, Harare.
If a Partner has Aids: Guide to Clinical Interventionfor Relationships in Crisis,
R Dennis Shelby, 277pp, Harrington Park Press, New York.
This engaging book presents a psychoanalytic study of the experience of 32 gay
men in partnerships in which one or both has mv and developed AIDS. It traces
the range of their experiences from initial fears of the possible diagnosis, "wondering",
through phases relating to confirmation, the progression of disease, death,
mourning and the "Back into the world" recovery of the surviving partner. The
author examines the way in which their relationships develop and change, and the
meaning to both partners of the illness, through the conceptual framework of self
psychology.
The author's decision to write the book grew from an awareness of the
neglect of lovers in the literature on AIDS and, from his clinical practice, growing
exposure to their needs. He explores conventional mourning theory and examines
how this applies to the personal experience of his subjects, and elaborates on
current theory to provide many useful insights for effective clinical intervention.
Grief, loss and mourning are approached through the field of self psychology, with
its emphasis on empathy and on concepts of self-object the way relationships
mirror one's own self perceptions and reinforce coping or, alternatively, a failure
to cope.
Throughout, the analysis is interpreted with first-hand experience, often
related in direct speech, from the subjects. This grounds the theoretical discussion
fIrmly in experience, and greatly enriches t!Ie book for the lay reader as well as
elucidating the material for the counsellor. Itexemplifies very well the empathetic
understanding and counselling process the author adopts in his clinical practice.
For developing countries where AIDS is primarily a heterosexual disease
and babies are also affected, many important areas are left untouched. The couples
described are all childless gay couples, often experiencing degrees of isolation and
stigma because of their sexual orientation. Nonetheless, the insights into their
feelings, dilemmas and coping strategies do have relevance to straight, heterosexual
couples facing AIDS, and may therefore help counsellors to assist them more
102 Book Reviews
effectively provided that the experiential and cultural contextual differences are
taken into account
The fresh approach to conventional mourning theory and self psychology,
applied to the specific context of AIDS, makes this a valuable book for the
counsellor working with AIDS affected couples. It is also of value to people
themselves experiencing mv and AIDS in their loved ones and or themselves.
They can learn from the experiences of others sensitively expressed within the
book, and be assisted to cope with their own emotions and relationships as they and
their loved ones progress on the "AIDS Journey".
Reviewed by Helen Jackson, Director of Research, School of Social Work, Harare.
Two Halves Make a Whole: BalancingG~nder Relations in Development (1991 )
Canadian Council for International Cooperation, MATCH International Centre,
Association quebecoise des organismes de cooperation intemationale, Ottawa:
CCIC, MATCH and AQOC,110, IncI. Bibliography
This is a handbook intended to assist development workers in integrating a gender
analysis into their projects. The authors have wisely decided not to attempt to be
all things to all people, and so this handbook is not the place to look for data on
women and development in specific sectors or in specific regions. Instead, it
focuses on disseminating the concepts and types of analysis employed by people
who wish to understand gender and development and on ways of integrating these
concepts into the work of development organisations.
The handbook is divided into two parts - first, an intreduction to the ideas
and techniques associated with gender analysis of development, and second,
suggestions for developing a training programme for development professionals
to sensitise them to gender. Itwas designed and created in Canada, and appears to
address itself primarily to Western development workers, who do not have a great
deal of experience in actually living in the Third World. This handbook therefore
may not be completely appropriate for use in some settings.
The first section provides a readable and well-organised summary of the
ideas found in much of the literature on women and development. It is divided into
theory (assumptions and concepts) and tools (ways of translating these concepts
into analysis of existing situations, and building on this analysis, the design, implementation
of programmes that address the situation. Many of these "tools"
consist simply of knowing the right questions to ask). This first section stresses the
difference between WID (women in development) and GAD (gender and development).
The authors of the book make the case that GAD is a more useful and