Language, identity and HIV: why do we keep talking about the responsible and responsive use of language? Language matters

Language matters. It impacts on how we think about ourselves, as individuals within our families and within society. As advocates and activists, we constantly use language as a tool to effect change. People living with HIV have been critical in shaping this language over the last 30 years and still...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the International AIDS Society 2012-07, Vol.15 (S 2), p.n/a
Main Authors: Dilmitis, Sophie, Edwards, Olive, Hull, Beri, Margolese, Shari, Mason, Naisiadet, Namiba, Angelina, Nyambe, Moono, Paxton, Susan, Petretti, Silvia, Ross, Gracia Violeta, Welbourn, Alice, Zakowics, Anna
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
AIDS
Care and treatment
Empowerment
HIV
HIV (Viruses)
HIV infection
HIV patients
Human immunodeficiency virus
identity
Language
Language usage
Letter to the Editor
MTCT
people living with HIV
Prevention
Psychological aspects
Social aspects
terminology
vertical transmission
women living with HIV
Citations: Items that cite this one
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Summary:Language matters. It impacts on how we think about ourselves, as individuals within our families and within society. As advocates and activists, we constantly use language as a tool to effect change. People living with HIV have been critical in shaping this language over the last 30 years and still play a central role in ensuring that new discourse in the HIV field does not stigmatize, but rather that it catalyzes empowerment for our community members. In this annotation, we seek to shift the language used in relation to ourselves, our medical condition, our bodies, our identities and the events we face, towards something more life‐enhancing, self‐affirming and positive in outlook.
ISSN:1758-2652
1758-2652
DOI:10.7448/IAS.15.4.17990