The advent of AIDS and its close relation with the studies of human sexuality point to the importance of gender issues for successful prevention to face this epidemic. The approach that is strongly focused on the use of male condoms shows that besides the knowledge of the body and sexuality, power relations between men and women need to be revised so that strategies that emphasize safer sex can be incorporated to everyday sexual relations. This article results from a research conducted among adolescents from both genders, aged 17 and 19, in the city of Curitiba, Brazil. It is intended to help us understand how they think about sexuality and prevention against HIV infection, indicating situations in which they engage in preventive behaviors and when they are neglectful in face of their peculiar situation of vulnerability.
adolescence; gender; HIV prevention; sexuality; AIDS