This week I watched a movie called Little Teresa. It was actually done by a previous student who worked with Shanti Ashram in southern India on a field study. It was very well done and relates to my previous post about women who are HIV positive in India. The documentary focuses on a woman named Meenakshi and her story is the same as many women: her husband gave her HIV and then he died of AIDS. His family blamed her and would not help her so she was forced to find a way to care for herself and her child. Meenakshi is amazing in that she stood up and admitted she was HIV-positive and then became a spokesperson for HIV-positive people. So obviously, the topic of HIV is becoming more noticed; however, according to the statistical information that we have about HIV infection rates, something more needs to be done.
In one of the clips, Meenakshi was teaching women about HIV and she asked how someone contracts HIV. The women responded that it was by blood transfusion and/or a "bad relationship". When the counselor started to tell them about the dangers of unprotected sex (not just a bad marriage) and suggested condom use the women in the circle started giggling and laughing. Honestly I don't really know if this reaction is a cultural reaction or just something that most women tend to do. Generally here in the US some women tend to have the same reaction. They believe that if you are in a "good relationship" you will not get HIV and do not stop to think if their partners may have the disease. And then when a solution is presented, generally they tend to laugh and giggle. However, with time condoms has become a more frequent term and is no longer a taboo subject (when talking to an older audience). Even though initially the women may react by giggling, the depth of the subject matter is realized and taken seriously.But I wonder if the same solution would work in India. Would it work just to continually push the importance of using protection or should a different cultural solution be presented? Or if there is no other solution, is the way in which it is being presented effective? This is what I am wondering with my question, are the methods to prevent HIV that are being taught effective or should something else be done?
Showing posts with label Women. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Women. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Women in India
As I am furthering my research on women in India, especially relating to HIV, the more complex the problem seems to become. I know that suppression and violence against women is not just singular to India; however, what does make India unique is that it seems to be contributing to its high infection rate of HIV. I am also learning that many officials feel that it is this mentality (specifically trafficking) that is causing this epidemic in India.
For example, India has a high trafficking and sex worker problem. In studies done the percentages of HIV-positive sex workers has been as high as 50% (of those interviewed). So what happens is that the workers transmit the disease to their "clients" who then infect their partners who are faithful. In most cases these are the women who are in a monogamous relationship. This continues until either the male or female experience signs and symptoms. If it is the female, she is generally either beaten or kicked out of her house and forced to live with her parents (if they will take her) for being HIV positive. Or if it is the male who experiences the symptoms first the woman is still blamed for giving the male HIV. Now obviously this is not the case in all situations; however, it is the most common result of being HIV positive in the studies performed.
The problem not only arises in the cultural treatment of women, but also the fact that the women are not able to protect themselves. They cannot force a male to wear a condom, yet nothing is available for them to use one themselves. HIV prevention programs in India as a whole are not very efficient yet there doesn't seem to be an option to improve. The most common response to lower HIV infection rate is to stop sex workers and human trafficking; however that is a legislative process that can take years. So until that can be accomplished, something needs to happen now to educate and help the women in India, and everywhere else this is a problem.
For example, India has a high trafficking and sex worker problem. In studies done the percentages of HIV-positive sex workers has been as high as 50% (of those interviewed). So what happens is that the workers transmit the disease to their "clients" who then infect their partners who are faithful. In most cases these are the women who are in a monogamous relationship. This continues until either the male or female experience signs and symptoms. If it is the female, she is generally either beaten or kicked out of her house and forced to live with her parents (if they will take her) for being HIV positive. Or if it is the male who experiences the symptoms first the woman is still blamed for giving the male HIV. Now obviously this is not the case in all situations; however, it is the most common result of being HIV positive in the studies performed.
The problem not only arises in the cultural treatment of women, but also the fact that the women are not able to protect themselves. They cannot force a male to wear a condom, yet nothing is available for them to use one themselves. HIV prevention programs in India as a whole are not very efficient yet there doesn't seem to be an option to improve. The most common response to lower HIV infection rate is to stop sex workers and human trafficking; however that is a legislative process that can take years. So until that can be accomplished, something needs to happen now to educate and help the women in India, and everywhere else this is a problem.
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