Aids-and-Culture | EssayIvy.com

Running head: AIDS AND CULTURE 1

AIDS and Culture

Name of the student

Name of the affiliate institution

AIDS AND CULTURE 2

AIDS and Culture

AIDS is one among the killer diseases. It has led to deaths of many people across the

globe. Studies show that despite the efforts put in place to ensure the epidemic is controlled,

there are still people who die of the same cause. Cultural beliefs have contributed to this menace.

Some cultures have made people believe other things such as curses, witchcrafts among others

which make them not seek medical attention. Anthropologists have sacrificed a lot of their time

to study this disease that has affected the political, social and economic aspects of the society.

Paul Farmer, the author of the book “AIDS and Accusation” which was published in the year

1992, relates the AIDS issue to be caused by social and economic inequality (Farmer, 2006).

This argument is based on a study conducted in Haiti. The people who are most affected by the

disease are those who are not in a position to afford a good life. Also, Thornton the author of the

book, “Unimagined Community” which was published in the year 2008, relates the spread and

the adverse effects of AIDS to the cultural beliefs of the society. This paper, therefore, focuses

on reviewing the ‘AIDS and accusation’ and ‘unimagined communities’ ethnographies.

Research shows that AIDS existed many years before it was named. Its symptoms were

evident, but they were linked to the diseases that were known at that time. AIDS is believed to

have begun in 1981, but it has become convincing that people were infected with it much longer

than then. The naming of the disease is what happened in 1981. People used to die, but because

there was no medical treatment for the disease, AIDS remained in existence. In the early life,

those who suffered from the disease sought help from the traditional healers who were believed

to have healing powers (Farmer, 2006). Others opted to visit witches who would help them deal

with the disease.

AIDS AND CULTURE 3

Anthropologists have had a concern about what is ailing the society especially when it

comes to the AIDS disease. The farmer had invested much of his time to investigate what are the

causes of Aids and what the society says about them. Some institutes in the United States

attributed the AIDS virus to the homosexual population. It was suspected that AIDS had risen

due to the humans who practiced homosexual. In 1983, the Center for Disease Control identified

four groups who were rated as a high-risk group, who were likely to get infected as well as

spread the disease. The Haitians, heroin users, hemophiliacs, and homosexual are the high-risk

groups (Farmer, 2006). The society has distanced itself from them with the belief that they are

safer when they are away from them. This group has faced not only discrimination but as well as

the stigma that is coupled with the infection.

The accusations that people with Aids have faced have negatively affected their morale.

For example, if people mistreat a person or discriminate him or her, it lowers his self-esteem. It

makes one feel hated, and there is the likelihood that he or she may develop characters that are

not acceptable by the society such as being cruel and unsociable. The Haitians have faced a lot of

discrimination wherever they go and especially their children have been adversely affected. They

have faced violence and bullying in school which makes them uncomfortable in the environment

they are in. Haitians have paid a costly prize due to AIDS-related accusations (Farmer, 2006).

Some have lost their jobs, others have been evicted from their homes and to sum it up, the

accusation has led to the deterioration of Haiti’s tourist industry.

Farmer, in his research, also found out there more accusations to the Haitians (Farmer,

2006). Haitians society was believed to have magic. Magic relates to powers that are associated

with sorcery. They are things that cannot be done by an ordinary person. A magician was

believed to possess additional powers that would make him or her respectable with the

AIDS AND CULTURE 4

community. Magic was believed to cause harm to other people. It is for this reason that the

Haitians were accused of the spread of AIDS. AIDS was seen and treated as a jealousy sickness.

It was believed that it resulted from the pains the poor people inflict on one another. If one

person felt mistreated by the other, he would go to a magician to tell him or her to infect the

person with the disease (Sida). If one felt that other was better than him or hers, he or she would

seek the magician intervention to ensure his or her rival is infected with AIDS. The magician

would send the disease out through sorcery. This practice was mainly related to the poor. For

example, if one were to become economically and socially successful, others would feel unhappy

if he or she would not share his wealth with the poor, and hence they would result in seeking

magic intervention.

AIDS was also viewed to be caused by the ‘white folks’ with the aim of controlling

Haitian as well as the black population. The accusation was based on the argument that the

Americans disliked the Africans as well as the Haitians and would, therefore, do anything to

ensure their spread was limited (Farmer, 2006). The assumption was that if the black population

increased, it would scramble for the available resources with the whites. The resources included

jobs, natural resources among others. It was believed that AIDS was used as warfare by the

United States. It was believed that it would help them in fighting their enemies.

The research conducted by Farmer opposes the accusation that AIDS was brought by the

Haitians (Farmer, 2006). He negates the notion that isolated Haiti as the source of the pandemic.

In his explanation, he offers a justifiable explanation which depicts the reason how the political

and economic relations in the United Nations have contributed to the widespread unemployment

and high poverty levels in Haiti which has resulted in people finding other sources of income

such as prostitution. Research shows that most of the people in Haiti have engaged in sexual

AIDS AND CULTURE 5

tourism. These have contributed greatly to the spread of the disease. Homosexuality is common

in Haiti as the locals find ways of entertaining the tourist. Farmer describes AIDS in the

political, economic and in the historical context that helps in explaining how preexisting

misconceptions, international relations, and historical events have shaped the different narratives

and experiences of the affected people.

AIDS should be treated as well as prevented. It is for this reason that Farmer insists on

the importance of examining the political, historical as well as the economic context of the

disease (Farmer, 2006). Other researchers have criticized some cultural beliefs which make

people be captives of their beliefs where they cannot seek other avenues from where they can get

help. For example, is a person believes that AIDS is caused by witches, it means that he or she

will be reluctant to seek medical assistance. Researchers have blamed cultural beliefs and

practices like the ones leading to persistent poor health and the spread of infectious diseases.

However, it is impossible for people to exist without a culture that guides them. People must

belong to culture to which they must observe always. This helps them to have a feeling of

belonging as well as they attain a desirable social status. Cultures are important in determining

people’s identity and behavior. Therefore, this justifies the accusation on Haiti because before

AIDS existed, Haitians were described as disease-ridden, isolated, and mysterious blood-

maddened and engaging in exotic, violent rituals. The accusation was based on the extensive

history of the Haitians of racism.

People who use heroin are also at risk of contracting the disease. The heroine is in most

cases injected into the blood using syringes. Users exchange the injection materials without care,

and this is one way of spreading the disease. People are not supposed to share objects that get

into contact with the blood. Although the higher percentage is of AIDS transmission is through

AIDS AND CULTURE 6

sexual behaviors, injections, and sharing of piercing objects also play a part in the spread of the

disease (Farmer, 2006).

The society at times permits people to practice polygamy. To some extent, this

contributes to spreading of the AIDS virus. For example, if a husband marries a woman who is

infected with the disease, he will spread it to his other wives unknowingly. Polygamy is mainly

practiced in those societies that believe that many wives represent a wealthy man. If a man is

capable of marrying many wives, the society acknowledges him as a wealthy man. Therefore, to

acquire this title men tend to have many wives. Unfaithfulness in marriages also plays a role in

the spread of AIDS. As couples interact and become intimate with their friends, they may contact

the disease without being aware of it. This has contributed to the many deaths of families. To

prevent the spread of the disease couples must remain faithful to one another. Also for the

cultures permitting polygamy, those involved should ensure they know their partners status

before they get married and after marriage, all the parties involved should be faithful (Farmer,

2006).

The beliefs that a society share are vital in prevention and treating of AIDS. According to

the research conducted by Thornton, it depicts a society that believes in showering as one way

that prevents and cleanses one from the AIDS infection (Thornton, 2008). This was observed

during Jacob Zuma’s trial which was South Africa’s deputy president. He was accused of rape,

and when he was defending himself, he said he had unprotected sex with her despite knowing

her HIV status. During his trial, he defended his actions by saying that it was socially

unacceptable to deny a woman sex, especially when she behaves in a manner to insinuate she

wants sex. If one were to put her off, he would deny her human right to sex. Research shows that

he did these because he believed that after taking a shower he would prevent the infection. This

AIDS AND CULTURE 7

is one of the beliefs that have lead to many deaths in Africa. Most people have clung to such

beliefs, and they do not use condoms as one way of preventing infection.

In South Africa, sex is has a different view than what other people from other parts of

the world view it. According to most people across the globe, they believe sex is meant for

pleasure and all those who indulge in it; they are always seeking enjoyment. According to the

South Africa people, sex is treated as an exchange of fluids between the female and the male. It

acts as the exchange of goods and service. It relates to where each partner benefits from the

exchange. This view is what makes them not use condoms. This facilitates the spread of the

disease because it is spread through the exchange of sexual fluids. During his study, Thornton

realized that even the traditional healers were not ready to recommend the use of condoms

(Thornton, 2008). They believed that the exchange of the fluids was vital in maintaining the

social network. Men in the society believed that using condoms would cause illness in the man

or could accidentally slip off from the man’s penis, hence disappearing inside his partners. This

would later cause some complications.

Thornton compares and contrasts how Uganda and South Africa are different when it

comes to AIDS story. He finds out that Ugandans are better in response than the South African

people. He compares the South African sexual network with information technology network

with built-in redundancy, where if one transmission node fails to work properly, the others can

promptly take over, and information continues to flow. This means that it is hard to break the

sexual networks of the people. The Ugandan sexual network is attributed to be weaker such that

some disturbance caused by the community or the government are likely to cause the whole

network to break down (Thornton, 2008). These shows how responsive are the Ugandans to the

changes that are brought by the government or the community.

AIDS AND CULTURE 8

Social butterflies also play a critical role in the spread of the disease. These are people

who are in most cases unfaithful. They keep exchanging one woman or man for another. These

people have played a big role in the spread of the disease. The social butterflies relate to those

people who move from one place to another and have a behavior of changing partners frequently.

This group of people is known to have the virus, but due to their movement, they meet people

who know less about them. This makes it easy for them to spread it. Thornton identified these

networks, and he made a strong case to reveal the social factors that support them. Through his

efforts, he aims to develop new prevention measures and efforts that would prevent the

transmission of the disease (Thornton, 2008). Thornton argues that since sex is a social activity

and not just a behavior, the society should intervene and help in finding the solution to the

problem. This will help in curbing the flow of infection,

Sexual networks must be identified and thoroughly understood. This will help in

targeting the affected parties as well as find lasting solutions to the problem. Thornton believed

that people needed to change how they behave. For example, if people were to remain faithful to

their couples, the disease would not spread as much as it does. People should be educated on

issues related to AIDS so that they get out of the social beliefs and cultures that promote the

spread of the disease (Thornton, 2008). For instance, believing that showering can prevent HIV

infection is a culture that promotes the spread of the disease. People should be told the facts

about AIDS and be informed on how they can prevent it.

Abstinence is one way that can prevent the spread of the disease. People who are not

married are advised to keep away from sex until when they will marry. This will help in saving

the young generations life. Abstinence demands that one must practice self-control. Despite how

much you feel you need it, one should have morals that help him or her to say no to what he or

AIDS AND CULTURE 9

she is not ready to do. Abstinence is the surest way that one cannot be infected with the disease.

Research shows that most of the HIV transmission is through sexual intercourse. Therefore,

since abstinence means, there is no sexual intercourse. It is almost one hundred percent sure he

or she is safe. Being faithful is another means of preventing the spread of the disease. Couples

are advised to know each other’s HIV status especially before marriage and preferably before

engaging in sexual intercourse. This makes couples to trust each other and more assured of their

safety. To ensure the couple stays safe, each partner must be faithful to the other (Thornton,

2008). They must tame their behaviors and be of good morals such that they will protect each

other from the infections. However, there are those people who have complicated beliefs. They

view sex a basic need, and to survive; they must engage in it with whoever they meet. It is

advised that they should use a condom always and especially when they are interacting with

people with whom their status is unknown to them. Although condoms are not one hundred

percent promising that one will not get the infection, they play a part in preventing widespread of

the disease.

Author’s position in the book, “AIDS and Accusation”

Farmer finds out the need to educate people on the disease. His concern makes him

suggest that some people suffer because they lack knowledge and through education, they will be

enlightened. This will help them to prevent as well as to treat the disease. Educating the masses

will ensure they seek medical attention whenever they are faced with the situation (Farmer,

2006). If the society is not adequately informed about the causes of the disease, they will perish

in ignorance, and many people will perish. Although it is good for people to cling to their beliefs,

it is important that misleading believes such as those that link AIDS to witchcraft, should be

abandoned. People should observe those cultural beliefs that add value to their lives. Believing

AIDS AND CULTURE 10

that AIDS is caused by a certain community or by witchcraft will lead to increased deaths, and it

will be impossible to treat or to prevent the disease.

Strengths and weakness of the book

Culture form the core determinant of how people behave or act. One strength of the book

is how the writer articulates his issues. He has shown proficiency in how he describes the issues

in the society to the extent that even the reader of the book can identify the cause of the problem.

He explains in details what affects the society. The weakness exists where he does not suggest

the solution to all the problems facilitating the spread of the disease.

Author’s position in the book Unimagined Community

Uganda in the recent past has recorded improvements in the way it has dealt with the

disease. This improvement can be attributed to improvements in the health services as well as

their response to the government directives. It is believed and also expected that South Africa

should learn few lessons from Uganda. This will help them to improve because despite South

Africa being more developed than Uganda, the rates of HIV infections are high. The author feels

that if South Africa does not change, most of its population will be infected and this will affect

their social and economic life.

Strength and weakness of the book

One of the strengths of the book is how Thornton explains the issues in the society. He

has been able to go much deeper in the field of ethnography than other writers who preceded

him. He was able to get the finer details of the things that promote AIDS transmission. However,

there exists a weakness because he does not suggest solutions to some issues such as those of

AIDS AND CULTURE 11

sexual networks. He does not suggest what should be done with the open skies or the social

butterflies.

Challenges

The authors of the book did not find it easy to conduct the research. They faced some

challenges because some people were not ready to share their problems with them. Some African

traditions are treated as secrets; not everyone should be informed of them. The authors may have

faced it rough sometimes when enquiring information about the people’s culture. Sharing

information about AIDS was not easy. The society was not comfortable discussing this disease,

and this made it hard for the authors to collect information.

Conclusion

In summation, cultures have contributed to the widespread of the AIDS. The cultural

believes that people cling to have caused them to behave in manners that promote the spread of

the disease. Believing that AIDS is caused by witchcraft has made people not to seek medical

help as soon as possible. This has led to many deaths in the society. The social networks of the

people as well as their social beliefs have been investigated in depth by Thornton, and have

revealed that social networks are causes of the spread of the disease mainly in the African

society. Abstinence, being faithful and use of condoms are ways that have been suggested which

can help in the prevention of the disease.

AIDS AND CULTURE 12

References

Farmer, P. (2006). AIDS and Accusation: Haiti and the Geography of Blame. Univ of California

Press.

Thornton, R. (2008). Unimagined Community: Sex, networks, and AIDS in Uganda and South

Africa (Vol. 20). Univ of California Press.

Place new order. It's free, fast and safe

Paper type

Deadline

Page count

550 words

Total price: $ 15.00

Our customers say

Jeff Curtis

USA, Student

"I'm fully satisfied with the essay I've just received. When I read it, I felt like it was exactly what I wanted to say, but couldn’t find the necessary words. Thank you!"

Ian McGregor

UK, Student

"I don’t know what I would do without your assistance! With your help, I met my deadline just in time and the work was very professional. I will be back in several days with another assignment!"

Shannon Williams

Canada, Student

"It was the perfect experience! I enjoyed working with my writer, he delivered my work on time and followed all the guidelines about the referencing and contents."