HIV/AIDS and anthropology

How a culture thinks about mental illness,  how they categorize and prioritize symptoms,  attempt to heal them,  and set expectations for their course and outcome-influences the disease s themselves.  In teaching the rest of the world to think like us, we have been, for better or for worse, homogenizing the way that we go mad. We also change the way that "disease" is defined and therefore treated. Indigenous forms of mental illness are being bulldozed by disease categories and treatment made in the USA DSM (Manual of Mental Disorders)-bible of the profession Biomedical approach will reduce the stigma of mental illness and that our drugs of the best we can offer. We are certain that by throwing off traditional social roles and engaging in individualistic quests for introspection they will be more mentally healthy. ETHNIC PSYCHOSES amok (extended period of brooding and murderous rage) koro (S. Asia -genitals are retracting into their bodies) zar ...

AIDS and drug use direct sharing of syringes with intimates most frequently (relationship sharing ) necessity sharing indirect sharing of syringes (stirring drugs with plunger, cookers, cotton swabs, using rinse water, back loading, etc) sex among IDUs shooting galleries Stigmatization driven by fear, homophobia, religious beliefs,  reactions by PWAs fear and emotional distress liberation/opportunity for spiritual growth empowerment Lovers and Other Strangers LOOK AT THE relative length of the quotes versus the anthropological commentary in this section

Cultivating the emotions needed to build and sustain a militant movement shifting the paradigm from shame to anger emergence of a new "queer identity" branding militant street activism replaced care giving, service access a lobbying (for treatments, etc.) 1980s and early 1990s How was ACT UP radical? confronted mainstream "emotion culture"--disparages angry people, seeing it as chaotic, impulsive, irrational --should be transcended and is inappropriate in public discourse confronted the idea that democracy takes place in the voting boots and legislatures, NOT on the streets existed when other militant groups had disappeared or were on the decline (had to legitimize it for gays) had to overcome internal stigma of being gay (ambivalence) often encourages a "politics of respectability" 1970s marked by conservative gay movements and a rejection of activism AIDS magnified the stigma of homosexuality, intensifying shame about sexual practi...

How did women understand HIV once they were diagnosed? despite knowing of and knowing people with HIV, they were surprised at the diagnosis questions allow you to understand the attitudes toward HIV infection, AIDS symptoms, and the experience of illness for each individual and as a whole. What do you call your problem? Medical terminology HIV, HIV positive or SIDA (spanish) "the virus" (support groups and SS agencies Folk terminology the monster/the green monster/pac man-little agency I am infected/HIV positive/infermita//-the sick role this thing/un descuidado -not naming, the result of careless neglect Alternative Model of illness use the AA/NA framework to understand HIV the second disease in the process of learning to practice "self care" What do you think caused your problem? Personal explanations from husbands or boyfriends-levels of anger from unprotected sex/trading sex for money -regret Structural explanations personal l...

What to Jot about: observations impressions personal feelings tentative explanations behaviors body language sketches of places words (vocabulary) scents, sounds Students need to make a distinction between what they OBSERVE and how they INTERPRET what they observe (keep them separate---the whats and the whys) How to do it: be flexible, what you planned on taking notes on may be less interesting than what is in front of you be sensitive to people  include informants in jottings/interact frame what you are doing in a positive and non intrusive way  be selective about when to take notes Ethics ensure confidentiality (pseudonym or coding) and omit sensitive information be upfront about what you are doing What to write terse, evocative phrases short quotes or phrases hat seem important (note time on recording) maps and sketches gestures, flavors, shouts, whispers, and all first impressions distinguish between WHAT you saw and tasted and heard ...

THOMAS CSORDAS " the body is not an OBJECT to be studied in relation to culture, but is to be considered as the SUBJECT of culture, or in other words, the existential ground of culture". eliminates the Platonic distinction between MIND & BODY (dualism) MONISM: The body is the place where all understanding happens-culture is interpreted through the body. no distinction between mind and body. an infants growth into a social person happens through gradual experience, by taking in tastes, touching the textures, inhaling the smalls, viewing the sights, and walking the walks of the world into which we are born. We are the sum total of these continuing experiences. SYNESTHESIA: Looking at the senses and healing Ability to experience one sense as another SESELELAME (Anlo)-sense awareness that straddles the supposed divide between cognitive perception, and physical sensation: hearing, tasting, smelling, understanding, obeying, sexual arousal, heartache, passion, inspi...