This week's question of the week topic was to ask other people in our circle of friends questions regarding HIV. I saw a recurring theme: People's somewhat negative reactions to HIV and how many people are not only scared to talk about it, but are also scared of the disease itself. What promotes this fear?
I think a major factor in why people may be afraid of the disease is lack of education. Education takes many forms. Of course early HIV education plays a pivotal role in how youth perceives those who have HIV. But education can continue well after high school and college. Sometimes just talking around the family dinner table (if you have one....a family or a dinner table would certainly help!) or starting a dialogue with a mere stranger can foster an exchange. These exchanges may lead to someone who once didn't know anything about HIV to venture out into the world of the internet and library and possibly learn a thing or two. You can teach an old dog new tricks!
Did you know?
Many people still have the thought that gay = AIDS, or AIDS = gay. I don't even like the term "AIDS"...it is antiquated at best. But this thought process still blankets America today, especially throughout our conservative states, in my opinion. This quote from the National AIDS Trust says it best: "The link in people's minds between homosexuality and AIDS is so firmly established that discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS is inseparable from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation." (National AIDS Trust, 2003)
Why is this? Another recurring theme, in my opinion: a lack of education. When some hard right conservatives push their agenda onto our HIV education platform, we foster a relationship of mistrust between teacher and student. Teachers can't say all they want in regards to HIV education, and teachers may not be able to point out misconceptions to their students, as well. HIV is not a prostitute's disease. It is not a drug abuser's disease. It is not a black man's disease, or a gay man's disease. HIV is a PEOPLE'S disease, and we better learn this fact pretty quick if we want to help others and survive.
Calling HIV "the gay plague" or "the gay cancer" in the media certainly didn't help things along in the beginning. There was a case a few years back about a movie projectionist who had been charged with gross indecency in a restroom. He was openly gay in the workplace. Fellow employees put two and two together and determined, a-ha! He must have HIV, too! This led to workplace discrimination as others refused to work with or near him for fear of his "gay disease." By the way, he wasn't HIV positive.
Until we teach our children, our family, our friends, our neighbors, and anyone and everyone else who will listen, that HIV is not a gay disease, we will continue to see HIV discrimination in the workplace and beyond. It is up to us as responsible citizens to share our knowledge and pass this message on.
www.hawaii.edu/hivaids/HIVAIDS%20stigma%20and%20Discrimination%20%20%20Gay%20Men.pdf
I think a major factor in why people may be afraid of the disease is lack of education. Education takes many forms. Of course early HIV education plays a pivotal role in how youth perceives those who have HIV. But education can continue well after high school and college. Sometimes just talking around the family dinner table (if you have one....a family or a dinner table would certainly help!) or starting a dialogue with a mere stranger can foster an exchange. These exchanges may lead to someone who once didn't know anything about HIV to venture out into the world of the internet and library and possibly learn a thing or two. You can teach an old dog new tricks!
Did you know?
Many people still have the thought that gay = AIDS, or AIDS = gay. I don't even like the term "AIDS"...it is antiquated at best. But this thought process still blankets America today, especially throughout our conservative states, in my opinion. This quote from the National AIDS Trust says it best: "The link in people's minds between homosexuality and AIDS is so firmly established that discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS is inseparable from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation." (National AIDS Trust, 2003)
Why is this? Another recurring theme, in my opinion: a lack of education. When some hard right conservatives push their agenda onto our HIV education platform, we foster a relationship of mistrust between teacher and student. Teachers can't say all they want in regards to HIV education, and teachers may not be able to point out misconceptions to their students, as well. HIV is not a prostitute's disease. It is not a drug abuser's disease. It is not a black man's disease, or a gay man's disease. HIV is a PEOPLE'S disease, and we better learn this fact pretty quick if we want to help others and survive.
Calling HIV "the gay plague" or "the gay cancer" in the media certainly didn't help things along in the beginning. There was a case a few years back about a movie projectionist who had been charged with gross indecency in a restroom. He was openly gay in the workplace. Fellow employees put two and two together and determined, a-ha! He must have HIV, too! This led to workplace discrimination as others refused to work with or near him for fear of his "gay disease." By the way, he wasn't HIV positive.
Until we teach our children, our family, our friends, our neighbors, and anyone and everyone else who will listen, that HIV is not a gay disease, we will continue to see HIV discrimination in the workplace and beyond. It is up to us as responsible citizens to share our knowledge and pass this message on.
www.hawaii.edu/hivaids/HIVAIDS%20stigma%20and%20Discrimination%20%20%20Gay%20Men.pdf
WOW Cindy!! I loved your 'Did You Know'... it was very powerful and flat out blunt. Before this class I thought all of those things that you mentioned about HIV: it is a gay disease, drug users disease, and a black man's disease. We get these discriminating thoughts stuck into our heads to the point where it will take a personal experience or a lot of research to change our negative opinions. I'm glad that you posted this because our group needs to see that there are sooo many people out there that believe these horrible lies.
ReplyDelete-Courtney D
For my QOTW the young man I interviewed seemed to be very ignorant on the HIV/AIDS subject. I didn't think to try to educate him or keep the conversation going in order to better understand his view. I think I will take your advice if I should ever get the chance again. I now wish I could go back and try to let him know that he had the wrong impression on the disease.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your Did You Know feature. I agree with you about the AIDS = gay. Every guy that I interviewed thought that AIDS was only prevalent in the gay community. They thought it could never happen to them. That is a serious lack of education. Its really quite sad about the stigma that has grown attached to HIV. I feel like some people don't want to take the time to learn about it because they are disgusted with their misconceived notions of the disease. Most of the time the data that they think they know, that is disgusting, is not true.
ReplyDeleteIt is up to students like you who are educated to change the word from AIDS to HIV. Why do you think the class is called HIV Disease: A Human Concern?
ReplyDeleteDon't ever let an opportunity go by when you can educate someone on this disease. Every time you see something in print that is incorrect, write to the editor. If you hear someone say something you know is incorrect, correct them. Linda and I are passing on the torch. It is up to you all now.