AIDS in a Global Context

The last few classes we have focused on the topic of AIDS. As a class we talked about many different themes that have come up. One common theme that has come up with every topic of activism so far is education. Education is the foundation of activism. It is what results and also how activism starts. With AIDS education plays a huge part in the social understanding of the disease. This is apparent in both the local and global context of AIDS. Education reflects on social standing and class. The more access to education, typically comes more privilege. AIDS magnifies this inequality. In a local context this is apparent throughout Brett C. Stockdill's text, Activism Against AIDS: At the Intersections of Sexuality, Race, Gender, and Class. AIDS does not discriminate on any of those things but how individuals react to AIDS either as a diagnosis or understanding of the diseases does change based on each identity. For example, women have had a more difficult time getting involved with AIDS activism as the disease was understood as only something white, gay, men had to deal with. This same marginalization occurs with individuals who are not white or not gay. Another local focus was the issues of prisoners and AIDS. These people are literally outside of society, locked away. However, that does not mean that they should still have access to health care and education. Yet, these individuals lack access to not only education but also the tools to protect against AIDS, such a condoms. This magnification of inequality continues on the global scale. AIDS has shifted from being a disease that is associated with white gay men to being a disease that is manly affecting Africa. Africa has a host of social issues that are currently being addressed and affecting every part of life for individuals in Africa. Political uprising and changes have led to much social unrest. There is not a stable government that is able to provide adequate social care for citizens. AIDS has taken a fragile society and shook it up even more. NGOs and other activist organizations are starting to change this. These organizations are working with individuals to give them and their families the education they need to fully understand AIDS.

These organizations in Africa and the groups that have form in the Western World is the interplay of identity that is associated with AIDS. On one hand identity has been an obstacle that AIDS activism has had to overcome. From men accepting women to others in society that were marginalized and still were affected by AIDS. But a far greater part of identity is that the identity that comes with AIDS. People that were interviewed in Stockdill's book and in the movie in class today all spoke of living with AIDS. They do not let AIDS define them. AIDS is a part of their life but not who they are. I find this so empowering. This disease is so associated with death but these people are proving that AIDS is not the end it is something to live with. This made me think of the musical, RENT. In one of the songs the characters address the fact that they are living with the disease they toast to "people living with not dying from disease" I think this sums up the most of what I have learned this week. I know understand the power and privilege that affects AIDS understanding, treatment, and education. Yet through all this inequality the people most affected are clearly stating they are "living with not dying from disease."