ASSIGNMENT ON
PROBLEMS OF HIV & AIDS IN RELATION TO GENDER INJUSTICE
BY UNDERLYING THE PATRIARCHY, SEXUAL VIOLENCE
AND HOMOPHOBIA ALONGWITH REMEDIES.
Submitted to:
Mrs. Amongla Jamir, and
Ms. Vanlalhruaii Ralte
In partial fulfillment of
BID03: Towards Inclusive
Communities: People Living
With HIV and AIDS
Submitted by:
CR. Lalfakzuala
Date: 28/10/2022
Serampore College, Faculty of Theology
CONTENT
1. Introduction --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1
2. What is HIV&AIDS? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1
3. Problems of Gender Injustice through Patriarchy -------------------------------------- 2
4. Problems of Sexual Violence ------------------------------------------------------------- 4
5. Problems of Homophobia ----------------------------------------------------------------- 5
6. Remedies ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7
[Link] Remedies ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 7
[Link] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7
[Link] remedies ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 8
[Link] remedies ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 8
[Link] remedies ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 9
7. Conclusion ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9
Bibliography --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10
Webliography -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11
1. Introduction
Since it was first detected in 1981, HIV has always been a very controversial and most
discussed subject in many platforms. It is so, not because of its advantageous aspects, but due
to its deadly nature. It is true that it cannot be cured once it is contracted, moreover, it is fatal.
Though it is known only for 41 years, the rate of infection and contraction is alarming and
many NGOs and government agencies have to have a close look to the situation. Therefore, a
dangerous killer that dwelt amongst us should definitely be a social issue, whatever the
causes and nature may be.
Due to the catastrophic effects of the disease, the infected patients also suffered many
extra misfortunes which are directly or indirectly caused by the disease. The physical, mental,
emotional and spiritual damaged that it caused is appalling. It can ruin the whole life of a
person if proper care and treatment is not provided. Among those many misfortunes, we will
be dealing with „gender injustice on the basis of patriarchy, sexual violence and
homophobia.‟ The underlying factors that brought about this injustice and the suggested
remedies will be the main focus.
2. What is HIV&AIDS?
A manual for HIV/AIDS published by USAID and SHARe II said, “HIV is a type of
minute (very tiny) microorganism/virus that destroys the immune cells of the body.”1 This
means that HIV is caused by a certain virus that weakens the immunity of the human body,
which gives it its name, „Human Immunodeficiency Virus.‟ Once the virus is deployed in
large number, it attacks the white blood cells, which is the defense mechanism of the body.
When the white blood cells are destroyed, the body produces more WBCs to continue
defending the body. But as the production of HIV is faster than the production of WBCs,
there comes a point when the virus dominates over the defense cells. At such point the person
began to suffer from several diseases and develop certain infections. When such infections
are observed, that person is suffering from Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)2.
This is a very dangerous disease whose deadly effects had been mentioned earlier.
1
HIV/AIDS and the Christian Faith: A Manual for Leaders (Zambia: USAID – funded SHARe II
Project, 2015), 2.
2
HIV/AIDS and the Christian Faith: A Manual for Leaders, 2.
1
3. Problems of Gender Injustice through Patriarchy
As far as gender is concerned, HIV & AIDS is always going to be a debatable subject
where there is a struggle for justice by one gender or the other. Particularly, in a patriarchal
society like that of the Indian context, the status of women is neglected and ignored. The
Indian National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) stated that female sex workers are
among the high risk groups alongwith men who have sex with men and injecting drug users. 3
It is also said that gender, poverty and migration are the key causes of the spread of HIV4.
Flora Cornish stated that women has two types of interests: practical interest and strategic
interests.5 Practical interests are those which women required for being a woman, the basic
needs which are significant in their everyday lives. While the strategic needs are the
collective requirements of women as a whole, not as an individual. It includes their status in
the society, their role in the community and even the privileges that are available to them. All
these necessities have been lacked by women in almost all the communities, causing them to
decline in social and financial status. Their desire to re-establish their status, then, sometimes
led them to get involved in unacceptable activities, or sometimes, repugnant activities.
The economic, educational, social, and sexual opportunities of women are very much
different from that of men. Usually, male child are preferred over female child and are given
better opportunities and facilities. This is due to the fact that male child are likely to take care
of the parents till old age while female child are to serve their marital families. Due to this
reason, female child usually get lower level of education and eventually got engaged in
household chores. This narrowed their financial opportunities as they do not have the
required education for employment.
Therefore, it implies that many women get involved in sexual business due to many
reasons. Their main reason is to support themselves and their family, i.e., poverty and
3
Flora Cornish, “Targeting HIV or Targeting Social Change? The Role of Indian Sex Workers‟
Collectives in Challenging Gender Relations,” in Gender and HIV/AIDS: Critical Perspectives from the
Developing World, ed. Jelke Boesten and Nana K. Poku (England: Ashgate Publishing Limited, 2009), 123.
4
Cornish, “Targeting HIV or Targeting Social Change?” 122.
5
Cornish, “Targeting HIV or Targeting Social Change?” 122.
2
insecurity.6 Thus, patriarchy compels women to get involved in sexual business so as to
support themselves, which led to the spread of HIV.
However, the sex workers are not the only channels of transmissions. The partners that
they had sexual contacts with are also vulnerable, i.e., the men. Many married men are also
involved in this business and contracted the disease from their infected partners. Again they
spread the disease to their wives and children and to the whole family who are innocent. But
it is not their choice, in fact, the unhealthy behavior of the father (head of the) family is the
main reason which led to the sufferings of the innocent children and the mother.7 Therefore,
patriarchy, which brought about dominance of the male and negligence of the female status
causes a tragic result which led to the spread of HIV/AIDS.
When we talked about sexual matters, it always took us to men having sex with men. It is
obvious that even male sexual workers are also the channels of the spread of this disease.
Also, it is guaranteed that these male sexual workers always have their clients to do their
business with, usually men. It is found out that HIV risk is higher among men having sex
with men (MSM). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) claims that 70% of
all new HIV infections in 2019 were gay or bisexual men8. This means that the chances of
infection is higher among those men who worked with the male sex workers. These men who
had sexual contacts with men spread the disease to their fiancée an to the rest of the family
members as well.
Also, one a woman is infected, the struggles she went through among the society and in
other circles is tremendous. It cannot be nothing less than the situation of the woman with
hemorrhage mentioned in Luke 8:43-48. Like a woman like her was to be excluded from the
society (Numbers 5:2-4), female HIV patients are also treated differently which added to their
sufferings and struggles.9
6
Cornish, “Targeting HIV or Targeting Social Change?” 124.
7
Cornish, “Targeting HIV or Targeting Social Change?” 123.
8
Elizabeth Boskey, “Why Do Gay People Get HIV?” Verywell Health, August 11, 2022, accessed
October 25, 2022, [Link]
para. 4.
9
Maria Lis Rivoira, “A Vulnerable Woman Made Visible by Jesus,” in Theology and HIV & AIDS in
Latin America, ed., Valburga Schmiedt Streck (Sweden: Swedish International Development Agency, 2013), 73.
3
4. Problems of Sexual Violence:
The London School of Economics and Political Science defined sexual violence as „any
act of sexual nature that a person did not consent to. This can include rape, sexual assault,
childhood sexual abuse and exploitation, sexual harassment, and taking or sharing sexual
images without someone‟s consent.10‟ When we say „consent‟, it means that we do not
choose or agree to have the sexual contact with the other person. Or, may be we are not in the
position to make any choice during the time being. Whatever the situation may be, any form
of sexual contact with anyone can be claimed as a sexual violence since it is beyond the will
of the person. This can post a great problem in the context of HIV&AIDS since sexual
contact is the major medium through which it is contracted.
We had mentioned earlier that sexual contact is one of the major reason for the spread of
HIV virus. This cannot only point to the sexual workers or the MSMs. There are several cases
where there are sexual contacts that takes place beyond a person‟s choice or desire. These
acts are called „rape or sexual abuse‟. The victims, in many cases, eventually got infected by
the disease which is a great misfortune for them.
It is said that HIV-transmission risk is higher during forced sex. The abrasion caused
during forced penetration increases the chance of getting infected by the disease. Also, young
women, specifically adolescents, whose reproductive organs are not fully developed are more
vulnerable to the contraction. The research conducted by the World Health Organization
stated that in some countries, one in four women may experience sexual violence by an
intimate partner or by stranger during her lifetime11.
Studies had claimed that one-third of adolescent girls reported that their first sexual
experience was forced12. This may be from anyone: relatives or strangers. Whatever the
situation may be, the fact that they were forced increased their chance of contracting the
disease.
10
The London School of Economics and Political Science, accessed October 27, 2022,
[Link]
11
“The links between violence against women and HIV and AIDS” HIV and AIDS Key Issues Guide,
accessed October 27, 2022, [Link] page 2.
12
“The links between violence against women and HIV and AIDS”,
[Link] page 2.
4
Also, those girls who are orphaned by one reason or the other are usually assaulted
sexually. Since they are orphans, they need to support themselves for their financial and basic
needs. They usually had no other choice other than to get involved in sexual business and the
like. Moreover, they often are one of the most favorable preys for assaulters who would force
them to have sexual contacts, hundreds were being assaulted by family members or their
guardians. In such cases, orphaned girls are usually left with no choice, leading them to get
exposed to sexual business.
Widowed women are also among the high risk groups. Since they are left alone at their
hardest times with themselves and their children to support, they are in need of financial
incomes for their survival. In such cases, many divorced women got involved in sexual
business, which is an emotional compulsion. S, they may be forced physical or emotionally to
get involved in such business. Also, they are usually forced by some men who agreed to
support them if they can agreed to be some kind of sexual material to them. So, out of
despair, they are sometimes forced to involve in the things that they do not want to do in
other times. This compulsion and necessity forced them violently in many cases.
Even among the married women, there many of them who do not dare to know about
their current situations on HIV. They sometimes hesitate to be tested or fail to return to
collect their result. This is mainly due to their fear of disclosing their positive status. They
may be beaten or expelled from the house or society. Due to the fear of such consequences,
they rather chose to remain deaf about their conditions.
5. Problems of Homophobia:
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, homophobia means „culturally produced fear
of or prejudice against homosexuals that sometimes manifests itself in legal restrictions or, in
extreme cases, bullying or even violence against homosexuals (sometimes called „gay
bashing‟)13‟. Therefore, homophobia is the action against any kinds of contact between
people of the same sexual category. It may be between male and male or between female and
female. However, the main concern with HIV/AIDS is the relation between male and male
since Men having Sex with Men (MSMs) are the most vulnerable category for HIV
contraction. As mentioned earlier, the MSMs are one among the high risk groups of HIV
13
The Encyclopedia Britannica, accessed October 27, 2022,
[Link]
5
virus. So, it is a very important matter and a serious concern for the general community and
even for the church.
Those people who are attracted to another person of the same sex are termed as
LGBTQIA (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Intersex Asexual). They existed in
India for thousands of years as seen from the temple carvings in Konark and Khajarao that
depict homosexuality and the like that exists during the ancient times 14. The Indian legal code
section 377 said that sexual relation between two men is a criminal offense and is strictly
prohibited15. Therefore, those people who are involved in such actions are discriminated and
treated differently among the society and by the law. So, the reputations of homosexuals is
not impressive to let them reveal their actual character to the society. Some of them even had
female partners. However, their sexual drive towards people of their own sex cannot be
removed. This led them to get involved in secret and unprotected sexual contacts with those
people.
Since these people are not accepted by the community and the law, they have to satisfy
their thirst in one way or the other. They rather have to reveal their actual condition or satisfy
themselves in secret. Majority of them will definitely go for the second option. This leads
them to have insecure and unsafe sex which would lead them to risk their life.
A report from Bangalore found that during 2008-2009, 15% of MSMs were full time
commercial sex workers and 63% of them had sex for pleasure. Commercial sex, concurrent
multiple sexual partners, low condom use and poor health seeking are the major risk factors
among the MSMs. Another report from Chennai stated that 22% of MSMs had unprotected
sexual exposures and 35.9% of the, paid another man for sex16. Since this is the situation in
India, the attitude of homophobia compels male sex workers to neglect preventive measures
and their health conditions. The simply satisfy their needs in every possible ways without
considering about their preventive measures. Also, homophobia prevents them from daring to
take care of their health since they cannot seek extra healthcare as they needs to unveil their
14
“HIV in Indian MSM: Reasons for a concentrated epidemic and strategies for prevention” National
Library of Medicine, accessed October 27, 20222, [Link]
para 9.
15
“HIV in Indian MSM: Reasons for a concentrated epidemic and strategies for prevention”,
[Link] para 9.
16
“HIV in Indian MSM: Reasons for a concentrated epidemic and strategies for prevention”,
[Link] para 14.
6
actual sexual conditions. Therefore, homophobia causes discrimination to the homosexuals
and eventually increases their risks of HIV contraction due to the judicial and social
discrimination that they faced.
6. Remedies:
The stated points, patriarchy, gender violence and, homophobia had posted number of
problems in the lives of the people living with HIV/AIDS. They are being discriminated
among the society and religious groups. Since their disease in fatal and incurable, they are
treated as someone who are dead-stricken and unethical in every aspects. They are being
deprived of certain benefits that they are qualified for and moreover, they are not given the
required healthcare that they deserved. So, we will be looking to the different remedies that
can reduce their burdens and give them a better life.
[Link] Remedies:
The biggest organization is the society. So, anything which the society accepts is always
the main concern for everyone. Social ethical issue is the most important scale for the
determination of any kind of actions. Therefore, the society plays a vital role to determine the
situation of the people living with HIV&AIDS (PLWHA).
The society needs to be the primary healing factor for the PLWHAs to accept themselves
as they are and to adapt themselves with the general community. The main problems of the
PLWHAs is their alienation from the society since their status declined due to their disease. It
is important for the society to accept them as they are and to help them face the hard reality
that they encountered.
[Link]:
Family is the basic social community. The society begins with the family and multiple
families constitute the society. So, the treatment that the PLWHAs received from their family
can change many things for them. The social discrimination that we had stated earlier usually
starts from the family. If the family cannot accept them as they are, then it will certainly
affect the society to have a different prospect upon them. But if the family supports and
accept them, they will be able to find their place among the society and the entire community.
Problems of women usually starts with their partners, i.e., their husbands. They are
usually rebuked or beaten once they are known to have contracted the disease. This snatched
7
their dignity and rights in the family and also among the entire society. But a supportive
husband who would accept and provide their needs would definitely rebuilt their dignity
within the family and the society. The same thing goes with the parents-children relationship.
If the parents are educated enough to support the infected children during their times of trials,
they will get freedom and courage to accept themselves and face the world with faith and
enthusiasm. If the case goes inverted, the whole situations and the conditions of the infected
persons will deteriorate and will lead to mental and emotional decline, which will eventually
lead to decline in health conditions and weakens them in every ways.
[Link] remedies:
Medication is one of the most important concern for the PLWHAs. Since HIV is a
medical condition, it requires medical treatment and care. The Indian government has now set
up treatment centers for HIV patients in almost all the district capitals called Anti Retroviral
Therapy Centers (ART Centers). In these centers, the patients have to collect their treatments
which will control the viral count of the disease in their bodies. The amount of defense
mechanism in their body (CD4 count) and the amount of virus that worked in their body
(viral count) are carefully determined and recorded. Regular test is conducted to note the viral
load of the patients. So, it is vital for all the PLWHAs to attend the ART centers and maintain
their personal records carefully to know their exact health conditions.
Also, it is the demand of the society to the authorities to receive proper awareness
regarding HIV/AIDS and to be aware of the affects that it causes in the human bodies. The
knowledge of the modes of transmission of the disease and the ways in which they can be
prevented is mandatory for everyone. The health personnel must also provide condoms to the
sex workers for their safety, in the mean time, persuading them to find some other jobs to
earn their living. The role of medical personnel is very much important to control the spread
of the disease.
[Link] remedies:
The law enforcement team also plays an important role to control the spread of
HIV/AIDS and to stop the discrimination of the PLWHAs. As mentioned earlier, the
government had made a strict law to control the increasing rate of homosexuality. This,
however, seems to suppress the freedom of their fellow beings since such acts are regarded as
criminal offense. This creates unethical mindset among the homosexuals and the feeling of
8
guilt alienate them from the entire society. Also, this means that anyone who is involved in
such activities are vulnerable to be punished under the law. Punishment, so long as it got its
name, will not be a favorable choice of anyone. Instead, the government could have establish
correctional centers with counselors to be attended by such peoples and also by anyone who
had problem with HIV&AIDS. Such measure is likely to work out better with the situation
since counseling is one of the important needs of the PLWHAs. More ethical and
constructive amendment of the constitution seems to be required in order to improve the
situations and conditions of PLWHAs for any reason.
[Link] remedies:
The church is the epic help center for all kinds of problems. Although we want emotional
and physical wellness of the PLWHAs, the most important thing is their spiritual healing. We
had said that HIV is not a curable disease and it will last till death, it is not possible to heal
the patients physical. Also, it shortens their lives. But if they are prepared spiritually to face
the situations, they will definitely feel stronger and motivated to accept themselves as they
are.
However, the church community has many things to do in order to act as a healing
community. Every members of the church are well aware that it is the ministry of Jesus to
heal the sick and to take care of the abandoned. But this act of acceptance is a complicated
task with the knowledge of the devastating effects of HIV&AIDS. Since Jesus said in the
Nazareth Manifesto that he came to set the oppressed free (Luke 4:18), it is the duty of the
church to give their rights to the discriminated sections of the society and the church
community. But, it seems that the PLWHAs are not welcomed enough to join the church
community.
The role of the church is so effective since it not only deals with the physical concerns,
but also with the spiritual life. Every church members are expected to work diligently for the
welfare of the neglected and the outcast so that they might have inner peace within
themselves and eventually receive miracle from God to heal them mentally, emotionally,
physically, psychologically and spiritually.
7. Conclusion:
Considering all the mentioned problems and discriminations faced by the PLWHAs and
the remedies that are suggested, we can conclude that HIV/AIDS is always going to be a
9
controversial subject and a debatable one since there are many bases upon which convictions
are made. However, the most important thing is to consider ourselves to be the victim of any
catastrophes which could happen to human beings. No one is guaranteed to be free from HIV.
There may be some chance for anyone to contract the disease and be left in the most
unwanted situation where the PLWHAs are currently left behind. Therefore, it is important to
give the best possible human treatment to anyone who is suffering from anything.
Discrimination is one of the most serious and unwanted experience that a person can face
during his/her life. The feeling of isolation from our fellow beings will be the most insane
feeling that a person can ever feel. No one will have the desire to be isolated or discriminated
from the society. So, the isolation and the discrimination that the PLWHAs are experiencing
right now is a great inhuman act which needs to be eradicated. They needed to be accepted as
they are. They are patients of some sort of infections. They are none other than someone who
is suffering from other forms of disease. Therefore, they needs to be accepted, they needs
care, treatment and love through which they will have the chance of regretting their
trespasses and eventually change themselves into someone better.
As the famous quote says, “To err is human, to forgive divine,” everyone is capable of
committing something which had unwanted consequence in our lives. It is true that we all had
committed something wrong sometime or the other. Whatever the action and the consequence
may be, it is divine to accept everyone for who they are and to help them find their solutions
to their problems. In doing so, we may be able to become a healing factor for the HIV
patients in one way or the other. For we are called for a reason; to be a blessing for others
(Genesis 12:2).
Bibliography:
Anderson, Eric. Britannica, “Homophobia- Psychology and Society”. Accessed on 27th
September, 2022. [Link]
Cornish, Flora. “Targeting HIV or Targeting Social Change? The Role of Indian Sex
Workers‟ Collectives in Challenging Gender Relations.” In Gender and HIV/AIDS:
Critical Perspectives from the Developing World. Edited by Jelke Boesten and Nana
K. Poku, 121-138. England: Ashgate Publishing Limited, 2009.
Dube, Musa W. ed. HIV/AIDS and the Curriculum: Methods of Integrating HIV/AIDS in
Theological Programmes. Geneva: WCC Publications, 2003.
10
HIV/AIDS and the Christian Faith: A Manual for Leaders. Zambia: USAID – funded SHARe
II Project, 2015.
John, Eliton. Love Is the Cure: On Life, Loss, and the End of AIDS. UK: Little, Brown and
Company, 2012.
Kambodji Alphinus, Erlinda N. Senturias and Wati Lonngchar, eds. HIV and Inclusive
Community: Asian Theological and Biblical Perspectives. Kolkata: SCEPTRE, 2013.
Newbern, George. A Global Health Pandemic HIV and AIDS. US: Blackstone Publishers,
2017.
Rivoira, Maria Lis. “A Vulnerable Woman Made Visible by Jesus.” In Theology and HIV &
AIDS in Latin America Edited by Valburga Schmiedt Streck, 71-75. Sweden: Swedish
International Development Agency, 2013.
Webliography:
Boskey, Elizabeth. “Why Do Gay People Get HIV?” Verywell Health, August 11, 2022.
Accessed October 25, 2022, [Link]
an-increased-risk-of-hiv-3132782.
“HIV in Indian MSM: Reasons for a concentrated epidemic and strategies for prevention.”
National Library of Medicine. Accessed October 27, 20222.
[Link]
The Encyclopedia Britannica. Accessed October 27, 2022.
[Link]
“The links between violence against women and HIV and AIDS.” HIV and AIDS Key Issues
Guide. Accessed October 27, 2022.
[Link]
The London School of Economics and Political Science. Accessed October 27, 2022.
[Link]
11