AIDS activism, stigma and violence: A literature review.

This paper provides an overview of the literature on AIDS activism, stigma, and violence. The literature on AIDS activism, stigma and violence discussed suggests that the physical, emotional and social violence that AIDS as a disease, and stigma as a social construct tied to that disease, can be turned into an empowering experience that joins HIV positive people in productive and constructive networks, that this empowerment fundamentally changes one¿s identity, and that such disease-based identities are reshaping notions of citizenship around the globe. This hypothesis is built, however, on theory and on experiences in a) richer countries with a completely different epidemiology than that of sub-Saharan Africa, b) a highly politicised and activist country such as South Africa, and on c) initial ethnographic evidence from West African countries. Although this seems enough evidence to tentatively observe a trend, we need far more evidence from diverse contexts if this transformative potential is to be explored to the full. The paper concludes by drawing out a research agenda.

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10454/3846

Version

published version paper

Citation

Boesten, J. (2007). AIDS activism, stigma and violence: A literature review. University of Bradford, Department of Peace Studies, International Centre for Participation Studies. ICPS Working Paper 5.

Link to published version

http://www.brad.ac.uk/acad/icps/publications/papers/index.php

Type

Working Paper