Interview with Melissa, 16 – 17,British, middle class, Protestant. Women, Risk and AIDS Project, London, 1989. Original version including field notes. (Ref: LJH19)

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 an interview with Melissa, who is at college and hopes to go to university, eventually becoming a journalist or an author. Melissa is single at the moment, waiting for her 'perfect' man. She talks about losing her virginity, and how she wished she had waited a bit longer, but curiosity had got the better of her. Sex education in Melissa's all girl's school was 'nonexistent' and she has had to rely on her friends and the media. She talks about the homophobia that was rife in earlier AIDS campaigning, and how it lacked effectiveness. Melissa has been raised in a Christian family and though she still identifies as religious, she thinks that current organised religions are outdated and sexist. She has some interesting thoughts on female sexuality and social change, and the ways that women are able to use their sexuality for manipulative purposes.