The Effects of Ageism and HIV-Related Stigma on Older Adults’ Social Networks

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dc.contributor.authorHogan, Mikaila
dc.date.accessioned2019-05-03T16:10:55Z
dc.date.available2019-05-03T16:10:55Z
dc.date.copyright2019en_US
dc.date.issued2019-05-03
dc.description.abstractHIV/AIDS has been the subject of culturally produced stigma since its emergence in the 1980s when a positive diagnosis meant certain death. HIV was transformed to a chronic condition with the introduction of antiretroviral therapies in 1996, yet the experiences of people living with HIV are still fraught with stigma and discrimination. Aging is also a stigmatized process in North America where a high value is placed on youthfulness. Through thematic analysis of individual illness narratives, this paper addresses how the intersection of age-related stigma and HIV-related stigma may exacerbate the social isolation already experienced by many older adults. As an example of how stigma can be unintentionally culturally produced, this research takes a critical anthropological view of the “successful aging” paradigm. The narrow normative framework for aging well does not allow for variations of success and can further isolate marginalized individuals. The discussion of themes that emerge from older adults’ illness narratives can help show how biomedicine must go beyond treatments of the physical body and address the social aspects of wellness. Sharing the stories of older adults living with HIV can help increase public understanding and empathy of the illness, reduce stigma, and humanize the individual experiences of HIV.en_US
dc.description.reviewstatusRevieweden_US
dc.description.scholarlevelUndergraduateen_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1828/10848
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.subjectHIVen_US
dc.subjectAIDSen_US
dc.subjectolder adultsen_US
dc.subjectagingen_US
dc.subjectstigmaen_US
dc.subjectageismen_US
dc.subjectsocial isolationen_US
dc.subjectsocial networksen_US
dc.subjectsuccessful agingen_US
dc.subjectthematic analysisen_US
dc.titleThe Effects of Ageism and HIV-Related Stigma on Older Adults’ Social Networksen_US
dc.typeHonours thesisen_US

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