Delvedibbers,
HIV/AIDS does not discriminate across the globe in terms of who is infected. However, it is clearly evident that the solution is not standard. In a world that is built off of standards such as time, pay rate, living conditions, etc; how do we dispel the ‘One Treatment fits all’ myth?
Over the last few weeks we have explored the issues of: gender disparity, sexuality, age, gender through the lens of HIV/AIDS. The complexity of the issue raises the topic of varying treatment and prevention from region to region. With this in mind, us native Detroiters should act to understand the dynamic culture that exists in Detroit.
There is a lack of understanding that exists between the biomedical and the social sphere in Detroit. Namely, there is a segregation of health care providers from the receivers. To me, the health care providers want to be the voice of authority when they do not understand the people that they are catering to. This however comes as no surprise considering the standardization of the medical world….
Anyways….I say we shake things up a bit. Did Thomas Edison continue to create the same light bulb when it did not work? Then why do we continue to address HIV/AIDS with the same manner, when frankly it’s flopping. HELLOOOOOO?!??!
I start out addressing the reading, Performance as Intravention: Ballroom Culture and the Politics of HIV/AIDS in Detroit by Marlon M. Bailey. The author addresses how INTRAvention is more affective than INTERvention in ‘high-risk communities’. The idea of intravention utilizes trusted sources as educators. When one’s information is via a trusted source they are more likely to act on the knowledge provided. Conversely, a third party (in this case health provider) is less likely to reach its target audience because they have yet to form the vital intimate relationship.
Through ‘House Ball Culture’, intimate relationships formed. These relationships affectively reduce the transmission of HIV/AIDS in LGBTQ communities. When examining the structure of the ‘House Ball Culture’ one is able to recognize a family unit. To clarify, there is what is seen as a mother, father and sibling relationship. These relationships are vehicles for spreading information.
Furthermore, the current treatment of HIV/AIDS fails to account for the stigmatism that exists. It is widely believed that transmission can only occur via intravenous drug use and having sexual relations with the same gender. Both of these routes of transmission are widely looked down upon. As a result many youth and adults alike are less likely to pursue HIV testing when provided in a public sphere.
Not only are members of The LGBTQ community less likely to be HIV testing but they are less likely to have received a comprehensive preventative education that caters to them. Living in a society that is fueled by heterosexuality many education centers give little recognition to STDs outside of Male-Female contact.
Lastly, I take particular interest in women’s rights; It is astonishing to note that 73% of infected women in Michigan are African American. I ask the general population to closely examine the relation between economic independency and transmission.
As always I raise possible solutions to the reduction of HIV transmission
1) Educators should be a part of the community they serve
2) Educators should recognize the needs of the population they serve
3) Women need to establish economic independency through education.
4) Basic understanding of the relations of dynamic LBGTQ community that exists throughout Detroit.
With all the talk of HIV/AIDS it’s easy to get lost in the discussion of disease. However, we should never forget that the focus is not on preventing death, but living life. To have quality of life is a trait that unites all of humanity regardless of HIV status.
-Paula
DelveDibs 