In "Racism and HIV/AIDS," there is great support on the idea of stigma and the shutting out of those that have contracted this disease as well as the type or racism and discrimination that is present due to this fact. Many that are discriminated against are those who have contracted this disease. By being someone of an ethnicity and contracting this disease, you are thought to be part of the stereotypical group of that ethnicity with that disease. It is also discussed that even being part of an ethnicity with people who have contracted the disease can cause a prejudice against you due to the fact that a large percent of your ethnic group has also contracted it. I think a term that would fit would be blanket discrimination. AIDS falls under the category of "stigmatized health condition" meaning that those who contract this disease are instantly stigmatized. This goes along with the race issue because those associated with the races with the high percent of disease contraction fall under this stigmatization even if they have not themselves contracted such disease. These issues tie into the social standings as well due to the stigmatization. Many of the high poverty level areas have a stigma that comes with. AIDS is found to be "most severe in the poorest countries and among the people of colour," furthering this social stigma that is created due to this sickness. All of the social statuses add up and combine with the race of individuals and their health standings to create a racism towards them.

In Shalini Bharat's "Racism and HIV/AIDS," she asserts that HIV/AIDS is not only a health problem but has resulted in many social problems such as racism and discrimination. She identifies that many of those diagnosed with such diseases and are of certain ethnic persuasion experience a feeling of neglect and stigma. She presents this in order to help identify how much of an influence that health has on people's lives as well as specifically their social standings. This information is presented in an informative fashion but appeals to the emotions and personal opinions of the readers.

In "AIDS and Racism in America," there was a large amount of support on the idea that the health field is a large area that has an affect on many minority groups. The convenience of available health care as well as being able to afford it is a big key in how well these groups thrive. Along with a  lower life expectancy, the rate of disease is much higher than that of someone who is not a minority. This is not only concerning with AIDS diagnosis and treatment, but with many other medical issues as well. Life expectancies and infant mortality rates are tied into this as well because of the fact that race has something to do with those levels as well. This piece seems as though it were written around the time that the civil rights movements were taking place due to the difference in the treatment and opportunities awarded to those of minority groups. Most of the health issues are found to be more concentrated among certain minority groups. This is most likely due to the fact that health care is not as readily available to these groups or the fact that genetics have just been unsupportive or unprotective against many of these diseases and sicknesses. Money is also taken into account when calculating out the rates of mortality as well as the level of health of certain people. Many minorities live in poverty or under the poverty level, making it that much more difficult for them to afford the care that they need, especially when it is not provided through their low income jobs. All of this results in lower health and life expectancy, as well as not having the proper resources to help with other health issues besides general health. The preventative methods are also unaffordable to those with low incomes in the minority groups. This meaning that sexual protection from certain diseases is unavailable due to "unnecessary" costs. "70% of males with AIDS are African American and Hispanic," and may also belong to those living in poverty. It is pointed out that "US AIDS patients are disproportionately Hispanic and Black," even though there is only a 18% of the US population that consist of these two ethnic groups. They focus mainly on the idea that minorities are still effected today even though the issue of racism is said to be resolved.

In J. Hutchinson's "AIDS and Racism in America," he asserts that institutionalization has a large impact on those that are affected by this disease due to the lack of proper health care because of location and convenience. This is specifically pointed out in minorities due to that statistics of life expectancy and health benefits. The purpose of writing this is to identify that there are still major differences between different races and classes and that it has an affect on life span as well as overall health. This information is presented informatively to the general public as a source of information that provides the idea that there is still racism in America,

In the article "Stigma, Discrimination, and the Implications for People Living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa," there is a large issue and identification on the idea that stigma is created from the differences of people in a society, especially aspects that separate those people somewhat uncontrollably. The author talks about the separation that mainly lies within " social, political, and economic groups that differ greatly from the expectations of the norm of these societies. This is felt in many different societies and is created by aspects such as diseases. This goes along with the classic idea of the cultural norm that everyone follows and if it is not followed than there is a stigma created and felt by those different than the norm. In this article stigma is defined as "a deeply discrediting attribute that reduces a person to someone who is in some way tainted and can therefore be denigrated," which describes the exact feeling of those who have contracted this disease. Knowing that this disease has rooted largely in South Africa, the stigma created is greatly racial and depends on the sexual orientation of those as well. They talk about how big of an impact this discrimination is on their "physiological and psychological" behavior and development. This also makes it very difficult for those with this disease to move and around and possibly start in a new community without already having the feeling of disdain. Overall this article just describes the severe effect that racism can have on those due to their sexual orientation and or their lifestyles and what has come because of it.

In D Skinner and S Mfecane’s “Stigma, Discrimination and the Implications for people living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa,” they assert that those infected with HIV experience a feeling of “stigma and discrimination” due to their race, gender, and sexual orientation. They identify that the reports of the conditions of those with HIV are publicized and broadcasted in a manner that causes this applied stigma due to their conditions and assumed life choices. This is presented in order to put perspective on the discrimination occurring due to those who have contracted HIV, whether it is in the expected way or another method. This information is presented in an informative was as a combatant to the negative information presented about those with HIV.

thesis statement

Racism is involved in the diagnosis and treatment of those expected to have contracted the HIV virus as well as those who are thought to have contracted it and refuse to treat it due to the racist aspect of testing and diagnosing.

In the article "Racism, Poverty, and Other Truths about Sex: Race, Class, and HIV Risk among Latino Gay Men," the main target are those of latino persuasion that participate in unprotected sexual acts with other men of latino persuasion. This can be viewed as a racial approach, but statisitcs provide support for the thoughts on this targeted group. It is identified that "interpersonal experiences of racial discrimination lead to low self-esteem, a perception of low personal control, and increased fatalism about the inevitability of HIV infection," causing latino gay men to be less careful because of the automatic conviction due to their race and sexual preferences. Due to the race of the latino gay men, social groups as well as economic groups are created. These have an influence on the contraction of the HIV virus as well. By being at the certain economic levels and being organized in these social situations, there are choices made effecting the risk of contracting the HIV virus. They discuss the idea that there is discrimination experienced when testing and identifying the HIv virus, but these indivuals also "actively make choices, construct meaning, and shape situations in ways which create enhanced risk for HIV infection," supporting that those of certain groups place themselves in these high risk situations. Discrimination is indeed involved in the risk of contracting the HIV virus, but the social situations are by choice and increase the risk for many of these minorities. This is true in the manner that sexual orientation may not be a personally chosen preference, but those with which they associate themselves with can cause an increase or decrease in the risk of contracting this virus.

In the article “Perceived Everyday Racism, Residential Segregation, and HIV Testing Among Patients at a Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic,” it is identified that a key to targeting those with the HIV virus in order to get them tested can be approached using a racial method. Those who are of African American persuasion are of the largely targeted audience. Many of those diagnosed in this African American population refuse to get tested and therefore refuse treatment. Some refuse testing due to the concept that avoidance is expected to correlate into health and not contracting the virus. This creates the thought avoidance of the contraction of the HIV virus is possible if the individual avoids testing. Many of these refusal patients may be aiding to the spread of the virus as well because they are not taking precautions similar to their behavior before contracting the virus. This article was a scientific study on the thoughts of certain populations towards the testing of HIV as well as the treatment for those involved and affected. This article not only focuses on HIV and its testing, but general STD testing. Many of those who are to be tested do not want to fall under to stereotype of being an African American that has contracted HIV. The author states that “negative attitudes toward HIV prevention are linked to racism” because of this given stereotype and or racist approach on testing. It is not only significant that racism is involved with testing but also with the treatment of the virus. Many believe that “the government is … using AIDS as a way of killing off minority groups,” and therefore those of minorities do not want to get tested as well as treated because of this theory. The independent mind sets are found in those groups of certain ethnicities due to their lack of respect on the issues of STDs and HIV testing as well as the treatment of these diseases.

In Chandra L. Ford et. al.'s "Perceived Everyday Racism, Residential Segregation, and HIV Testing Among Patients at a Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic," they assert that involving racism when determining who to test may be a useful tool due to the high population of HIV and STD positive African American people. This is presented in order to allow for the justification of this type of prejudice when using testing methods. This was a test in order to also determine whether or not certain people due to their race would be more apt to get tested. This was presented in a scientific fashion in order to allow for statistics to be presented to the public to achieve the most accurate information.

In Rafael Diaz's "Racism, Poverty, and Other Truths about Sex: Race, Class, and HIV Risk among Latino Gay Men," he asserts that many struggling with the accusation of contracting HIV have been recorded to be discriminated against due mainly to race and class. He specifically sheds light on those men who are gay and of Latino persuasion. He presents this information in order to describe the specific scenarios and groups of people targeted for discrimination due to ethnic persuasion and life choices. He presents this information in order to inform a general public about the amount of discrimination involved in the diagnosing and expected diagnosis for Latino gay men.

biology topics on racism

genetics
development
metabolism
cancer
cyclosporine
insulin
blood pressure
diabetes
tuberculosis
HIV
herpes zoster
hypertension
renal disease
transplants
pharmacokinetics
dermatologic tissue