Let's not talk about sex
0 
The project, which is supported by the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), includes as well face-to-face training for male taxi drivers on family planning, sexual health and prevention of transmission of HIV/AIDS, and other venereal diseases.
Some of the taxi drivers, accompanied by experts, also visited a reproductive health exhibit in a museum within the Wu Jieping Urinary Surgery Medical Center.
Further, brochures about sexual and reproductive health were put into taxis for passengers to read or take with them.
The original plan had also stipulated free condoms in cabs for passengers. But this was shot down by project participants, and the CFPA has had to content itself with urging drivers to value condoms as much as they do seat belts, since both protect their safety.
"It goes against China's traditions," says Li Hong, secretary general of the Family Planning Association of Shijingshan District, Beijing Municipality, referring to the condoms-in-taxis idea. "The general public is conservative on the topic of sex. No taxi company would like to put condoms on their cabs."
That, however, was not the reason why the big taxi company that CFPA had partnered with initially opted to bow out of the project. According to the taxi firm, the physical examinations and training were delaying the drivers' work.
There are more than 90,000 taxi drivers in Beijing, most of whom clock a daily average of at least 10 hours at the wheel. Some 1,000 are individual drivers who own their cabs but are part of a taxi company. It was one of these small taxi firms with which CFPA eventually ended up running its sexual and reproductive health project.
Cultural taboos have continued to dog the project, though. For instance, CFPA had also wanted to partner with Beijing Communication Radio, one of the most popular radio stations in Beijing among drivers, to produce program that spread information about sexual and reproductive health.
"But," recounts Qi, "a producer with Beijing Communication Radio told us that things related to body parts below the waist cannot be broadcast in their program."
The CFPA project calls on participating male taxi drivers to help promote knowledge of sexual and reproductive health with other drivers and passengers as well. But much like Fang Junjun, most of the drivers are balking over the prospects of talking about sex and other related topics.
"No, I cannot talk about it unless others raise this subject," says Fan Peicai, who has spent 18 of his 52 years driving a taxi. "The young men know more about sex than me. And people at my age wouldn't talk about it."
Go to Forum >>0 Comments