Empowerment Trumps Stigma

HIV is an infection which many people have fears, prejudices or negative attitudes about. Stigma can result in people with HIV being insulted, rejected, gossiped about and excluded from social activities.  Fear of this happening can lead to people with HIV being nervous about telling others that they have HIV or avoiding contact with other people. They may end up suffering in silence instead of getting the help they need.

Struggling with an addiction to street drugs and a severe mood disorder made it difficult for Karen to adhere to her medication regimen for both HIV and diabetes, as well as for her mental health condition. Karen is a middle-aged, transgender African American woman who was referred to our Shanti Program four years ago by a case manager who recognized Karen’s need for on-going emotional support.

Disclosure of the discrimination a person experiences due to HIV status requires trust, trust that the intimate other will provide care and understanding while refraining to contribute to the enacted stigma.  An understanding that is discussed during the Shanti trainings. 

Consistent weekly meetings with her Shanti volunteers have helped Karen to emerge from isolation and to achieve some stability in her life.  Beyond such basic human goals she has also been able to realize a long-term dream of returning to school. Now, four years after her first meeting with her Shanti volunteer, Karen is committed to her recovery program, sees a chemical dependency counselor weekly, and has just completed an Associate of Science degree. When asked about the effect her Shanti volunteers had on her schooling, she replies “My success in school has a lot to do with feeling empowered by the Shanti volunteers.”  Her degree is evidence that empowerment trumps stigma.