AIDS/HIV Related Stigma :: AIDS Essays

&65279Introduction Since the appearance of AIDS in the new seventies and early eighties, the disease has had attached to it a significant loving stigma. This stigma has manifested itself in the form of discrimination, avoidance and fear of people life sentence with AIDS (PLWAs). As a result, the amicable implications of the disease has been extended from those of otherwise life threatening conditions to the point at which PLWAs are not sole(prenominal) faced with a terminal illness but also fond isolation and constant discrimination throughout society. Various explanations have been declare oneselfed as to the underlying causes of this branding. Many studies point to the relationship the disease has with deviant behaviour. Others suggest that fear of contagion is the actual culprit. Examining the existing literature and putting it into societal context leads one to believe that in that location is no one cause. Instead, there would appear to be a collection of associated fa ctors that influence societys attitudes towards AIDS and PLWAs. As the number of people infected with human immunodeficiency virus increases, well-disposed workers are and will be increasingly called upon to deal with and serve PWAs. Although not all social workers chose to work with PLWAs, the escalating incidence of HIV infection is creating a situation in which seropositive people are and will be masking up more often in al to the highest degree all areas of social work practice. This paper aims to examine AIDS related stigma and the stigmatization process, hopefully providing insights into countering the effects of stigma and perhaps the possibility of destigmatization. This is of particular pertinency to the field of social work due to our growing involvement with the HIV positive population. Association to Deviant/Marginal Behavior One of the most clearly and often identified causes of AIDS related stigma is its joining to deviant behaviour. The disease has had and still d oes have a strong affiliation for many to homo cozyity, IV drug use, sexual promiscuity and other liberations of sexual practice (OHare, et al., 1996 Canadian Associacion of Social Workers, 1990 Quam, 1990 & Beauger, 1989). An especially strong association exists amongst homosexuality and AIDS. This is largely due to the fact that, in the early days of the disease, it was far more prevalent within the amusing community and closely non-existent outside of it. In fact, until 1982 the disease was referred to as GRID or snappy Related Immune Deficiency. Even today, AIDS is often referred to as the gay plague (Giblin, 1995).