Donate
Contribute to PAI’s International Advocacy Small Grants Fund and help women and their families obtain the reproductive healthcare they need. Your gift will support organizations, like those featured in The Silent Partner, who advocate for women’s rights and improved reproductive healthcare in low income countries all over the world.
Advocacy Guide
Download the Advocacy Guide in PDF format.
Discussion Questions
The following discussion questions can also be downloaded as a PDF document.
- How does the film make you feel? What is your initial response to the film? What quotes or images stuck with you?
- What do you think are the main messages of this film?
- Does a married woman’s status make her more vulnerable to HIV infection? Why or why not? Is this only true for African women or women worldwide?
- How have stereotypes about the way a man should act put men at risk for infection? Again, is this only true for African men, or do all men face such stereotypes?
- How have stereotypes about the way a woman should act put women at risk for infection? For African women only, or is the situation different for women country by country, region by region?
- Does a woman have the right to say no to sex? What if she is married or is in a long-term relationship? Does the inability to refuse sex put women at higher risk for infection?
- Should a married woman have the right to request her partner use a condom? Why or why not?
- Is it expected or acceptable for a man to have sex—protected or otherwise-- outside of his marriage or cohabiting relationship? Are there situations in which it is acceptable for a man to have sex with a partner other than his wife? Does the same apply to women?
- How does a woman’s HIV-positive status impact her husband? Her children? How does a man’s HIV-positive status impact his wife? His children?
- In what ways are the consequences of HIV-positive status different for married women and men?
- What are some policies that could address some of the issues presented in the film?
Templates and Sample Documents
The following sample documents and templates are available for download:
Host a Screening
Hosting a screening of The Silent Partner can be a great way to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS, and the particular vulnerabilities of women including those who are married. Educating others is often the first step in making a difference. We encourage you to host a screening for your friends and family members, colleagues, neighbors, and community members. Your school, church, temple, mosque, club or community organization, government leaders (local or national), and donors are also excellent audiences for a screening of documentary. Screenings can be held formally in public places or can involve just a few friends invited into your home or office. Gender stereotypes, as does HIV and AIDS, impact us all thus everyone can benefit from seeing The Silent Partner.
Talking about the issues presented in the film plays an important role in understanding the messages of The Silent Partner and encourages viewers to challenge some of the beliefs they hold about gender relations and norms. We encourage you to facilitate a discussion of the film as part of the screening; we have provided some sample discussion questions to help start a conversation. Here are a few tips to help you facilitate an engaging conversation:
- Use the questions to spur discussion immediately following the film screening, guide the discussion and to keep the conversation flowing. You can use the provided questions, adapt them, or create your own. It is a good idea to be flexible with the questions based on where the conversation is going. Don’t be afraid to be provocative to get your participants engaged in the conversation.
- Aim to create an environment where everyone feels welcome and safe to share their ideas and beliefs. By ensuring that everyone is respected, your attendees will be more comfortable with revealing their opinions and participating in the discussion. It can be helpful to establish “ground rules” for the discussion, with common sense reminders such as “don’t interrupt others” and “listen with an open mind”. Additionally, be sure that everyone who would like to speak has an opportunity to share and that the conversation is not monopolized by a few individuals.
- Though it’s not necessary, featuring a speaker is a great way to attract an audience. Speakers can range from community members who can speak about the film based upon personal experience, to local policy makers or government officials who have shown an interest in any of the issues presented in the film (e.g., HIV and AIDS, African development, women’s equality, etc.). A speaker can be used to set the stage for the film or as a way to spark discussion after the screening.
- Keep track of the time so that you will be able summarize the conversation for participants and leave time to make any closing remarks.
Create a Blog
If you spend any time online, you’ve probably heard of blogs. You may even have a few favorites that you follow regularly. What distinguishes blogs from other forms of writing is that they’re personal and opinionated. Blogs are therefore a great way to tell people about something you’re passionate about—like The Silent Partner. PAI has prepared a quick guide to jumpstart you in the world of blogging.
Download the Blogging Guide
Social Networking
Web Badges
Use these badges to promote the film on your blog or the social networking site of your choice. To place the images on your MySpace page, blog, Facebbok page or web site, copy and past the code in the box below.
