HIV/AIDS and anthropology

Socio-psychological Aspects of Stigma: While shame fear and grief all all emotions associated with a stigmatized identity, their triggers and expression are culturally constructed. AIDS related stigma can be a death sentence in non-industrialized societies rejection by kin-group, which is an essential membership for survival stigma and ostracism may accompany HIV testing, safer sex practices or bottle-feeding Avoid testing, symbolic practices and treatment Stigma, Sex, Gender, Orientation and Drugs HIV evokes strong cultural responses about appropriate sexual behavior Christian values have further influenced the increased sexual stigmatization of HIV discussions of "safe sex" (outside of marriage) can evoke censure.  policies which provide condoms to high risk groups only increase that stigma. IDUs face dual stigma, and women IDUs face triple stigma. women are more likely to disclose to male partners and face rejection Women hold greater stigma (sex...

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...