HIV, AIDS, and Fear Itself
AIDS stigma destroys careers and friendships
by Regan Hofmann, from POZ
March-April 2010
See photos from INFECTED and AFFECTED at utne.com/stigma
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Stigma is one of the defining characteristics of HIV/AIDS, differentiating it from its biologically-parallel-but-socially-altogether-different retroviral kin. While we can discuss vaccinating children against HPV as we choke down our Cheerios, and we can sit comfortably in front of commercials for herpes drugs, the mere whisper of the word AIDS often causes all polite conversation to cease.
No one is imagining this. In 2007, the Foundation for AIDS Research sponsored a survey of Americans’ attitudes about women living with HIV/AIDS. The survey found that more than half are uncomfortable having an HIV-positive woman as their dentist, doctor, or child care provider. Eighty-seven percent are uncomfortable dating someone who is HIV-positive. One in four was uncomfortable having an HIV-positive woman as a close friend.
It would be one thing if stigma stopped with an attitude, but in a recent survey on POZ’s website, 34 percent of respondents said that fear of stigma has prevented them from seeking care, treatment, and support. Imagine how many people don’t get tested because of stigma. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV-positive people who are unaware of their infection might account for 54 to 70 percent of all new sexually transmitted HIV infections in the United States. Stigma is a barrier to individual—and public—health.
While much of the impact of HIV-related stigma is quantifiable, however, it is, arguably, those aspects not captured by statistics that prove the most devastating. More than 1,000 people told POZ chilling stories of how stigma negatively affects their lives. Only a small group spoke of how they fight it, standing proud and strong despite society’s desire to keep them down. The following are excerpts from the responses.
When I told a very good friend of mine (we used to camp beside each other every weekend), he cried and said he would stand with me, support me, be there for me. I have never heard from him again, not a call, not even a note or e-mail.
Most, if not all, of my negative experiences have been with, by, or in the presence of medical or dental personnel. . . . They look at me like I’m from outer space, and the quality of their care reflects it.