This paper examines the nature of gendering work among youth living in two oil-producing
communities, Gelegele and Ogulagha of Nigeria, and its implications on youth sexuality, in terms of
their perception and use of condom and HIV/AIDS. Data collection techniques used includes
observation and in-depth interviews with ten youth from Gelegele and fifteen youth from Ogulagha,
from January to April 2003. A total of 25 youth, fifteen females and ten males, participated in this data
collection. Prior to each interview, we obtained verbal consent from volunteers. Data analyses started
with verbatim translation and transcriptions. Transcriptions were read and re-read several times to
identify the major themes and content analysis undertaken by the researcher. We obtained records of
timeline for the economic activities of consenting youth. It was found that gendering work in these
communities led to more female youth in the traditional occupations of trading, fishing and commercial
sex work, while male youth with or without formal education either worked in the oil servicing
companies or were on “standby” pay. Male youth earned higher income, which privileges males and
reduces the power of female youth to negotiate sex and condom use. It was concluded that
Empowering youth through formal education and equal job opportunities in these communities will
promote quality of life by discouraging exchange of sex for wealth and promoting the use of condom.