To anyone, it usually seems like it at first. The way the media, communities, and people in general talk, getting the disease makes it out to be the worst thing that could happen to someone. It�s making people with AIDS feel like they�re nothing, because the disease is spread mainly by sex and drugs. For example, low income citizens within the United States are some of the main drivers of the epidemic. So, the stigma of the media attacks them. Along with homosexuals, they�re targeted as well. Infected or not, homosexual men are looked down on because they are seen as the cause of the dangerous, life changing epidemic. The disease was first recognized in the United States with mainly homosexuals. Therefore, the media, along with other citizens, blame gay men for the disease. Even though, they male transmission of HIV/AIDS has gone down drastically compared to heterosexuals, they�re still the main blame.
Obviously, the stigma and disgust from people has been taken too far. People have been refused jobs, housing, medical care, and health insurance because they have AIDS/HIV. Children have not been allowed to play in sports or go to school because they have the disease. It may be against some morals; but, now, respect is mandatory. The United States government has passed laws against discrimination and actions towards people with AIDS or HIV. The government is finally helping to prevent the stigma of AIDS.
The stigma may be driven by hopelessness, depression, shame, poverty, and drugs. But, it�s also encouraged by the lack of health services and treatments. Though, when all of the causes combine, infected people don�t get tested or protect themselves. The infected people fear judgement, embarrassment, and confession, which causes people to not want to get help.
The ones with negative identities are the most unlikely to get treatment, medical and psychological. Also, they may come off defensive, especially when they have the fake �I don�t care what people think about me� attitude. Little do they know, �A vital precondition for human well-being and agency is the recognition of people as having value by those around them. Stigma arises when people are denied such recognition.� (Campbell 3). With a bad, negative attitude, nothing is going to get better. The stigma will feel as though it was a punishment, more so than the infection itself.
With proper help and guidence, men and women infected with AIDS/HIV can feel proud, and optimistic, like Stephen: �Personally, I don�t really care, and I don�t really view it as an issue when people refer to us as �those people with HIV/AIDS.� If they say that in my presence, I just say, �Here I am, I am one of those people, and I have accepted my situation and I am ready to let everybody know� (Campbell 12). They will no longer feel isolated, out of control, and low. With positive peer and outlooks, they can live an almost-normal life, which is what everyone that�s diagnosed wants. Some are just too scared to attempt what they want.
Research and treatment from individuals and organizations, like the American Red Cross, are attempting to open doors for people infected. Most of their goals consist of more public awareness, restoring people from the initial downfall, encouraging counseling, and convincing people to resist the nasty stigma. Apparently, the government feels these things are necessary as well; federal, state, and local governments fund AIDS treatment and research, along with public clinics . No one wants the diagnosis of HIV or AIDS to be a torturous death sentence for doctors, caregivers, nurses, and patients anymore.
Treatments are worked on daily, with new information and proper improvements. But, a cure for AIDS and HIV may be impossible, which is why the stigma must be resisted. With positive outlooks, peers, media, and family, anything can be simple. Even this.
Whether a person is gay, straight, bisexual, drug-addict, or promiscuous, no one deserves to feel like they�re the epitome of the world. Unfortunately, the world can make someone feel as though they are when testing positive for HIV or AIDS. A lot still needs to be discovered about the interaction of economic and psychological dimensions of poverty, treatment, and conservative sexual morals within the HIV/AIDS stigma. But, with increased education and new generations, the stigma will eventually diminish.
Continually, though, every nine and a half minutes, someone in the world will be diagnosed with HIV or AIDS.