World AIDS Day 2013

HIV, stigma and discrimination

What is stigma?

Definition of ‘stigma’:

"a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or

person"

(Oxford English Dictionary)

What is discrimination?

Definition of ‘discrimination’:

"the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people,

especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex"

(Oxford English Dictionary)

Stigma + discrimination

What is the difference between stigma and discrimination?

How do they relate to one another?

HIV

• What does ‘HIV’ make you think of?

• Who do you think of?

• How does the term ‘HIV’ make you feel?

HIV attitudes

Alan, Sarah and Ben are living with HIV:

Alan, Sarah & Ben

Alan

• I could tell that Alan has HIV by looking at him

• Alan must be gay, because in the UK HIV only affects gay men.

• Alan had an early HIV diagnosis, so he will have a normal life expectancy

• Sarah can’t keep working as a midwife because it isn’t safe for patients

• Sarah can have a baby without HIV

• Sarah must have caught HIV when she visited her family back in Uganda.

Sarah

• Ben only takes one pill a day and almost never misses school

• Because Ben is only 6 years old he could bite other children at school, he poses a risk of passing on HIV.

• Ben probably got HIV from sharing cutlery, plates and cups with a family member

Ben

• Alan had an early HIV diagnosis, so he will have a normal life expectancy

• Sarah can have a baby without HIV• Ben only takes one pill a day and almost

never misses school

ALL THE OTHERS

ARE FALSE

True or false?

Impact of stigma

• What assumptions are made about HIV?

• Are they based on fact or myth?

• How do you think Alan, Sarah and Ben experience stigma?

• How would this make them feel?

• How could this stigma lead to discrimination against Alan, Sarah or Ben?

Learn the facts – bust the myths – challenge HIV stigma!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PUF5XSph7Q&feature=c4-overview-vl&list=PL5BD275320F66B600

Impact of stigma

Take Action

• What could you do as an individual to challenge HIV stigma?

• What can our school do to bust myths, tackle stigma and prevent discrimination against people living with HIV?

Learn about HIV

www.HIVaware.org.uk

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