Interview with Gemma, 21, White British, lower middle class, no religion. Women, Risk and AIDS Project, London, 1990. Original version including field notes. (Ref: LSFS35)

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 Gemma. She has had a few relationships and casual sexual partners, and has some really interesting thoughts on how her feelings around sex and power have changed as she's gained more experience. She has been able to reflect on these experiences through female-centred relationship self help books and through counselling, and seems to be embracing a new found independence and confidence. Her sexual experiences have varied in terms of her enjoyment - sometimes she found it to be 'a bit of a chore'. What she considers to be good sex - mutual pleasure, with communication - is very important to her in a relationship. Gemma's sex education mostly came from different books that she'd read, though she has received some from school and from her family, who work in the medical profession. The formal sex education she had at school was very broad, and was taught through Social Education. She was using the pill, but worried about some of the side effects, and makes sure to use condoms with new sexual partners. Marriage and motherhood are on the cards for Gemma in the future, but she would like to be in a secure relationship first.