During the 1980’s the United States was introduced to a deadly disease which soon spread from local communities to major cities and states. The AIDS pandemic has its origins beginning in the early 1980’s when it was only common in gay communities and minorities. The United States was the first country to bring AIDS to public awareness and established it as one of the most politicized and controversial diseases in the world. According to the public response, most of the attention brought to the disease was caused by social issues amongst individuals of different groups, based on their sexual orientation or race. The social responses to AIDS are characterized by high levels of discrimination and stigma, referring to prejudice, negative attitudes …show more content…
In the 1980’s, it became evident that increased knowledge was not enough to change behaviors. Research focusing on intervention behavior research and human rights needed to be pursued for all individuals in need of treatment and support. People living with HIV are denounced, leading to social consequences related to their rights and their everyday lives. The AIDS epidemic has often been associated with severe negative public reactions ranging from denying entry of infected individuals to alienating family members, deserting a pregnant wife due to her health status in hospitals, or removing a person from their job and denying a child admission in school (“NAP”). The social effects have shaped the behavior and response from individuals and have limited the effectiveness of prevention …show more content…
They have been distanced by strangers and family members, discriminated against employment and healthcare, driven from their homes and subjected to physical abuse (“Only Your Calamity”). The response towards women in particular has the greatest effect; social norms can compromise women's ability to protect themselves, while a husband asymptotically HIV positive gets the opportunity to leave his wife and children. Women with HIV/AIDS are hesitant to access care because of fear of breached confidentiality and perceived stigma from healthcare providers. Women are afraid that disclosing their HIV-positive status may result in physical violence, expulsion from their home, or their property being seized after their partner died (“AIDS Scenario”). The impact on women due to the response by the public causes them to be vulnerable when it comes to their protection and