The Stigma Attached to HIV and AIDS

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Stigma and seroconversion are a few familiar words that come to mind when dealing with HIV/AIDS. These are a few processes that people go through when they are indentified as being HIV positive. This is when their life on whole comes into contrast. This is so because people often take things like sex for granted and it is because of this some can’t live a healthy lifestyle. Just imagine finding out that you are positive. How will society accept you? What about the stigmatization that one goes through. Can you imagine the physical, mental and emotional torments of the person’s life? Many people are left to walk in shame because of the fact that people usually do little to educate themselves about the virus. Even with the awareness of how to protect your self against the virus there is still a stigma attached to people living with the disease.

The stigma attached to the HIV/AIDS virus causes damage to society. On occasions, it causes even more damage than the virus itself. Because of stigmas, people are usually treated as though they are socially unequal to the people casting judgments upon them. Stigmas give people the sense that inequalities are reasonable and therefore that makes it acceptable. These issues arise because stigmas are attitudes and beliefs that are brought about because people often do not take time to get educated with factual information. It is quiet common for the average human to be contented with unscholarly information.

People are often discriminated against because they have been identified as HIV positive. Obtaining jobs, socializing and building families are all things we take for granted but we do not keep in mind that these are quiet a difficult tasks that require a lot of courage and persistence ...

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...namer, David. J, and Julie Honnold. "AIDS Education and Prevention." Differences in disclosure of sexuality among African American and White gay/bisexual men: Implications for HIV/AIDS prevention. 12.6 (2000): 519-531. American Pschological Association. Web. 4 Dec. 2009.

Lewis, John E. "The name assigned to the document by the author. This field may also contain sub-titles, series names, and report numbers. HIV/AIDS Risk in Heterosexual College Students. A Review of a Decade of Literature.." The name assigned to the document by the author. This field may also contain sub-titles, series names, and report numbers. HIV/AIDS Risk in Heterosexual College Students. A Review of a Decade of Literature. 45 (1997): p147-58. www.google.com. Web. 4 Dec. 2009.

Mcnaught, Brian. "Gay issues in the work place." Common Questions. dont know: Brian Mcnaught, 1993. pg 96-116. Print.

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