HIV, Gender, Race, Sexual Orientation, and Sex Work: A Qualitative Study of Intersectional Stigma Experienced by HIV-Positive Women in Ontario, Canada

PLoS Medicine
Carmen H. Logie, LLana James, Wangari Tharao, Mona R. Loutfy
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3222645/?tool=pmcentrez

Stigma and discrimination are principal factors contributing to the HIV epidemic. For example, HIV-related stigma increases vulnerability to HIV infection by reducing access to HIV prevention and testing and presenting barriers to treatment, care, and support for PLHIV. Stigma refers to processes of devaluing, labeling, and stereotyping that are manifested in the loss of status, unfair and unjust treatment, and social isolation of individuals or groups.

Quote from: Felix on December 17, 2011, 02:31:10 PM
HIV, Gender, Race, Sexual Orientation, and Sex Work: A Qualitative Study of Intersectional Stigma Experienced by HIV-Positive Women in Ontario, Canada

PLoS Medicine
Carmen H. Logie, LLana James, Wangari Tharao, Mona R. Loutfy
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3222645/?tool=pmcentrez

Stigma and discrimination are principal factors contributing to the HIV epidemic. For example, HIV-related stigma increases vulnerability to HIV infection by reducing access to HIV prevention and testing and presenting barriers to treatment, care, and support for PLHIV. Stigma refers to processes of devaluing, labeling, and stereotyping that are manifested in the loss of status, unfair and unjust treatment, and social isolation of individuals or groups.

Please do not take this personally, this is directed to the author: WHAT A CROC OF FECES. The factors contributing to HIV epidemic is unprotected sex PERIOD, and to some extent the needle sharing

I don't take it personally, but did you read it? The unprotected sex and needle sharing are problems that are exacerbated by other social problems.

QuoteGender inequity may enhance HIV infection risks by reducing women's ability to negotiate safer sex with male partners.

QuoteHomophobia and transphobia may reduce access to HIV prevention services and contribute to sexual violence—both increase HIV infection risk among sexual minorities and transgender people.

Quotesubstantial evidence highlights the alarming health impacts of HIV-related stigma, racism, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia

Etc. There are links in the article if you want to read the data behind those quotes.

Is there a reason it makes you angry that they're examining class factors in relation to HIV? I didn't feel like they were being disrespectful about it.

Quote from: Jen61 on December 17, 2011, 03:57:26 PM
Please do not take this personally, this is directed to the author: WHAT A CROC OF FECES. The factors contributing to HIV epidemic is unprotected sex PERIOD, and to some extent the needle sharing

From the article:

At the personal (micro) level, HIV-related stigma can make it hard for people to take tests to determine their HIV status or to tell other people that they are HIV positive.

At the social/community (meso) level, it can mean that HIV-positive people are ostracized from their communities.

At the organizational/political (macro) level, it can mean that health-care workers treat HIV-positive people differently and that governments are deterred from taking fast, effective action against the HIV epidemic.

Properly speaking, the "AIDS epidemic" never really met the definition of an "epidemic," as it was, and is, endemic to certain"communities" (as used in the article).

Your point is valid.

Quote from: Jen61 on December 17, 2011, 03:57:26 PM
Please do not take this personally, this is directed to the author: WHAT A CROC OF FECES. The factors contributing to HIV epidemic is unprotected sex PERIOD, and to some extent the needle sharing

I've found those posting articles in this section rarely take anything personally, since what they post is what others have written.

I had an extremely brief period in sex work, during which I didn't contract any diseases, fortunately.

Like others, I have also spent my entire life as a transgender, but never having any real opportunities to express it. Like most, simply dealing with having a disgusting secret, for which I rightly deserve to be horse whipped and left in the gutter. People like me are not fit to be among decent society after all. A pervert, a poof. Only interested in bottoms and filth, who lacks the moral fiber to make it as a man.

In sex work, punters don't want condoms. If you try, they just walk away to the next whore. Chances are, you might get a punch in the nose for your trouble. A whore with a bruised face may as well wear a sign saying, I take it very rough. You're a bit like a wall with urine stains. Since others pee there, the next guy thinks he can as well.

In sex work, you take cash to put yourself entirely at the mercy of the punter. Rape is little more than theft. More than anything, your self esteem, which will already be pretty poor, is non-existent. You are scum. You know it.

Now I was just lucky. I didn't do it very long. It was well before the HIV epidemic had caught on. But it's easy to understand how this can happen.

I was also lucky regarding how I felt. I hit the bottom, but took a chance to sneak back into semi 'decent' society.

That is the reality for sex workers. Not some trendy, hedonistic life, of parties, flirting and endless fun sex.

HIV is, in reality, just another of life's little jokes that it plays upon anyone who don't fit into the norm.

Please don't take this personally. I am honestly, just offering a perspective  here