A Ring on her Finger

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By Fanta Régina Nacro, Burkina Faso, based on an original idea by El Hadji Malick Seck, aged 20, from Pikine, Senegal

Aliou has bought his girlfriend Nancy a new dress, which she eagerly tries on. Meanwhile, thinking that Nancy will reward his generosity, he surreptitiously arms himself with a condom. But Aliou hasn't reckoned with Nancy's reaction … or her resolve to stick to her own AIDS prevention strategy.

• length: 4'12" · date: 2001
• shot in: Burkina Faso
• currently available in: French, English, Portuguese, Dioula, Wolof, Pulaar, Mooré, Fon, Twi (plus additional languages courtesy of project partners)
• starts at 0:42:26 on the VHS compilation cassette

Topics for discussion
(See also complete Users' Guide)

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Key topics for discussion:

• Recognising ploys designed to get somebody into bed

• Saying "NO" to sex: the right timing

• Saying "NO" to sex: how to do it

• Asking for sex: accepting "NO" as an answer
  

Discussion topic 1:
Recognising ploys designed to get somebody into bed

IN THE FILM: What is Aliou's action plan to get Nancy to make love with him?

IN REAL LIFE: Have you seen Aliou's gifts-for-sex strategy used before? What other manoeuvres and ploys do people use to get somebody into bed with them? What kinds of clever arguments do people use as part of their ploys?

Discussion topic 2:
Saying "NO" to sex: the right timing

IN THE FILM: At what point does Nancy make it clear that she doesn't want to make love? Is that good timing?

IN REAL LIFE: Imagine that you are going on a date this evening with somebody you like a lot, and that you firmly intend not to have sex. At what moment should you make that clear to your partner? When is it too soon to make that point clear? Is it ever too late?

Discussion topic 3:
Saying "NO" to sex: how to do it

IN THE FILM: How exactly does Nancy go about saying "NO" to Aliou's idea of making love?

IN REAL LIFE: If you were in a similar situation as Nancy, and if you wanted to say "NO", how would you go about it? What would you do? What factors might make it difficult to say "NO"?

Discussion topic 4:
Asking for sex: accepting "NO" as an answer

IN THE FILM: How does Aliou react when Nancy says "NO"?

IN REAL LIFE: Boys and men: Would you accept a girl or a woman talking to you like that? Why (not)?

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An idea for the facilitator: Have two people play out a scene similar to that of Aliou and Nancy in the bedroom, but switch the gender roles: The girl or woman is on the prowl, and the man or boy insists on abstinence. Other members of the group can offer advice to the actors while the scene is being played out.