Voices of Resilience : Stigma, Discrimination and Marginalisation of Indian Women Living with HIV/AIDS

This book presents the results of a study that examined the multiple layers of stigma and discrimination experienced by women infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in a low socio-economic area of Mumbai, India. Using exploratory qualitative methods and underpinned by the psychosocial framework and gendered perspectives the study attempts to represent the voices of affected and infected women. The book first focuses on a global overview of HIV, presents data on the Indian context and provides a synthesis of HIV in relation to stigma, discrimination and gender. The second part of the book probes the depth of impact on women's lives using the lenses of gender, economic status, the environment and physical health. The framework was further modified and extended to include threats revealed by and strengths indentified in infected and affected women. The analysis revealed that strategies to address stigma and discrimination need to address the social, cultural, religious and systemic barriers to changing attitudes. The book portrays the resilience of each woman's spirit and the unique capacity of the women to cope, to find strength, to pursue life and to maintain hope when their dreams and the dreams of their children have been shattered through HIV/AIDS. Front Matter....Pages i-xxii Introduction....Pages 1-9 Overview of Hiv/Aids Globally and in India....Pages 11-31 Stigma,Discrimination and HIV/AIDS....Pages 33-48 Contextualising Indian Women....Pages 49-65 The Objectives and Framework of the Study....Pages 67-72 Research Design and Implementation....Pages 73-82 Stigma and Discrimination Faced by Indian Women with HIV/AIDS....Pages 83-99 The Environmental, Economic and Cultural Resources Available to Women....Pages 101-120 Social Ecology Resources Available to Women....Pages 121-137 Human Capacity....Pages 139-162 The Power of Voice....Pages 163-190 Conclusions, Recommendations and Future Directions....Pages 191-205 Back Matter....Pages 207-229 Pam O'connor, Jaya Earnest. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 213-227).