HIV/AIDS and Inequality

Question 1

What power relations are at play in the HIV/AIDS epidemic?

Answer 1

1. Global north vs global south
2. Healthy vs sick
3. Men vs women
4. Adults vs youth
5. Rich vs poor
6. White vs black

Question 2

How did the global north vs south power relations affect the HIV/AIDS epidemic?

Answer 2

Decades of colonial exploitation meant:
- Economic collapse
- Corruption
- Labour practices (migration inequalities)
[i.e. exacerbation of inequalities which allowed for the epidemic to thrive]

Question 3

How did the healthy vs sick power relations affect the HIV/AIDS epidemic?

Answer 3

People with HIV/AIDS were stigmatized, rejected and discriminated against, because the disease was associated with promiscuous sex, drug abuse and poverty.

Question 4

How did the men vs women power relations affect the HIV/AIDS epidemic?

Answer 4

• Violence against women (rape and prostitution) means that many women don’t have power to ensure a condom is used
• Financially, women may rely on sexual partners for money, or get pregnant for the social grant money
• The stigma reinforces patriarchal social interests, when it paints women as carriers and men as innocent parties, because it gives reason for devaluing women.

Question 5

How did the adults vs youth power relations affect the HIV/AIDS epidemic?

Answer 5

Prevention programmes weren’t effective because young people were viewed as victims of symbolic, economic and political exclusion. There was also:

• Pathologising youth sexuality
• Ignoring/denying young girls’ sexuality
• Socialised links between sex. sin and morality