Interview with Michelle, 19, White British, working class, no religion. Women, Risk and AIDs Project, London, 1989. Original version including field notes. (Ref: LSFS29)

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).Original transcript of interview with Michelle, who has recently moved to London for a nursing course. She is enjoying her time in London, but does worry about her safety here. She has had quite a difficult family life, from a violent father to her mother and sister ganging up on her. Michelle didn't receive any sex education at home, and what was taught at school was largely irrelevant - most of it was gleaned from conversations with friends and books or TV. AIDS education was mostly through TV and her nursing training. She first had sexual intercourse at age 13, though it was unwanted and she feels she was much too young. She has since had more enjoyable sexual experiences, but has found some of them a little boring at times. Michelle has been using the pill, and doesn't really enjoy using condoms, but has had some menstrual issues with her birth control. She would like to get married someday, at the moment for tax reasons, but would rather have a career at the moment than parenthood.