HIV Stigma – Naming and Owning the Problem - ICRW

3. PROCESSING: Ask–
a) Why do we like some animals/people and dislike (stigmatize) others? How do we form
opinions of prejudice toward different animals or people?
b) Why is stigma a problem?
c) Why is it important to learn more about and take action against HIV stigma?
Sample Responses:
Why do we stigmatize others? How do we form opinions of prejudice?
■■
■■
■■
■■
■■
All of us are taught to like certain animals or people, and to dislike others.
Stigma is to look down on other people, attributing bad things to them.
We stigmatize, often without realizing it, e.g. we all stigmatize crows.
We are socialized to stigmatize, to think negatively about other people, occupations and
even animals. We say they are “bad,” “dangerous” or “dirty.”
These negative attitudes are not based on personal experience, but on what we have
been told over the years by other people.
Why is stigmatizing others a problem?
■■
■■
Animals and birds that look beautiful are valued more than those that are ugly, but some
animals and birds that are rejected are also useful to society.
Stigmatized people may be viewed as bad by society, but they all make a contribution in
building a better world, so they should be accepted.
Why is it important to learn more about and take action against HIV stigma?
■■
■■
■■
■■
Stigma is a major factor in the HIV epidemic. Fear of stigma means people don’t get
tested and disclose their status, which leads to further transmission of HIV.
Stigma results in people living with HIV being discriminated against and not getting
access to health and other services.
People blame people with HIV as immoral or bad, rather than focusing on how to help
them stay healthy and prevent HIV from being transmitted to others.
Caring for and supporting people living with HIV (the opposite of stigma) helps to stop
HIV spreading, because it encourages them to practice safer sex.
Chapter A: HIV Stigma – Naming and Owning the Problem n 25