oaklandgrl
oaklandgrl
Joined:
March 15, 2008
Posts: 2
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 Posted: Post subject: Self Fulfilling Stigma |
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I am HIV positive. How many of us have a hard time with that small sentence? Those four words? I believe that it is our own internalized HIV-phobia that allows others to stigmatize us. Self fulfilling stigmatization.
Some PLWHA are so afraid and ashamed of being positive that their fear and shame are contagious and infectious and spread to those around us. People in general look to us for signs of what to think and how to act if they have never been around positive people who are out before, and if we are ashamed then they take the hint and treat us as if we have done something wrong.
I have met some pretty narrow minded people, and I know that in their minds there is some moral judgement about PLWHA, but because I live my life in the open with no fear or shame and I do not ever accept behavior towards me that is not appropriate, even the most self righteous and narrow minded treat me no different than a person who is not infected with the virus.
I work with other positives every day, and hear so many reasons why they cannot be open about their status, and what I know in my heart and soul, is that it is this, the miriad of reasons that people find to hide their status, that is the true root of stigma, and that stigma will not go away until we, PLWHA, quit stigmatizing ourselves.
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