Interview with Eliza, British and Swiss, middle class, no religion. Women, Risk and AIDS Project, London, 1989. Anonymised version including field notes. (Ref: LSFS18)

This interview is part of the Women, Risk and Aids Project (1989-90) archive which was created as part of the Reanimating Data Project (2018-20).Anonymised transcript of an interview with Eliza, who is half-English and half-Swiss. She thinks there is a big difference in values between the two countries and that Swiss people do not recognise their privilege, especially compared to the disparities in wealth in different communities that Eliza sees in London. Eliza would like to go to university after her A-Levels, but plans on taking a gap year first. Her sex education in secondary school was fairly comprehensive and covered things like periods and buying sanitary towels, but she found it all quite embarrassing and technical. AIDS education was through the television, and her understanding of AIDS/HIV is quite limited - she has some partially-formed, contradictory ideas around contraception and safe sex. Eliza had a long-term relationship, but found her partner to be too possessive. He had attempted a sexual relationship with her, but she found the whole idea completely repulsive. Eliza would like children and marriage in the future, and doesn't see why she should have to choose between motherhood and a career.