This talk discusses the negative impact of low cultural consumption on sexual and reproductive behaviors in suburban settings in Angola. Focusing on the youth, the talk argues that, alongside with material poverty, low access to consumption of cultural resources such as cinema, theatre, reading and sport competitions play a key role in people’s propensity to overvalue sexual and reproductive activities. This implies that low consumption of cultural resources contributes to the suburban youth considering sex, sexuality and reproduction as the main sources of pleasure, satisfaction, self-steam, and status. In such a context, following sociologist Robert Merton, it is here argued that, being poor concerning cultural consumption, suburban young people in Angola use sex, sexuality and reproduction as means to reach socially approved resources. The negative outcome regards social disintegration, with difficulties to maintain a family unity, which in turn worsen further material constraints. Suburban settings in Angola (and Africa) are probably the most disadvantaged environments in terms of cultural consumption, since they tend to distance themselves from rural-traditional life styles, but not be able to match urban-modern life standards. Reflections on the need to politicize the connection between low cultural consumption on the part of suburban youth in Angola, and their overemphasis on sexual and reproductive values is central in the present talk.
José Katito . Instituto Superior Politécnico Lusíada do Huambo, Angola . jose.katito4studies@gmail.com
