STIGMA SCENARIOS

Family

• Scenario 1: Rejection and Isolation A person discloses their HIV status to a family member, but they react with fear, avoidance, and judgment. The family member refuses to allow the person to stay in their home or participate in family gatherings, leading to feelings of rejection and isolation.
• Scenario 2: Denial and Silence A family refuses to acknowledge the HIV diagnosis, and the individual is not allowed to openly discuss their health condition. This results in a lack of support and emotional distress for the person living with HIV, who may feel as though their illness is a taboo subject in the household.
• Scenario 3: Blame and Shame A family member accuses the person living with HIV of bringing shame to the family. The individual is blamed for contracting HIV, and the family may make hurtful comments or insinuate that they are morally responsible for their condition, reinforcing feelings of guilt.

Friends

• Scenario 1: Fear of Transmission A person discloses their HIV status to a friend, and the friend reacts with fear, asking whether they are at risk of contracting HIV from casual contact, such as shaking hands or hugging. The friend distances themselves and avoids physical interaction, even though HIV is not transmitted in these ways.
• Scenario 2: Avoidance of Social Gatherings A person with HIV is not invited to social events anymore. Friends make excuses, saying it’s because of the individual’s health condition, but the true reason is an underlying fear of HIV transmission or discomfort around the diagnosis.
• Scenario 3: Gossip and Stigma A friend discloses the HIV status of another friend to others, violating their privacy. This leads to gossip within the social circle, making the person with HIV feel stigmatized and betrayed by someone they trusted.

Workplace

• Scenario 1: Discrimination and Harassment An employee discloses their HIV status to their employer, but they are met with discrimination. The employer assigns them fewer responsibilities, isolates them from the team, or even terminates their employment, citing concerns about their health status without considering their ability to perform work.
• Scenario 2: Reduced Opportunities A person living with HIV notices that they are passed over for promotions, challenging projects, or career advancement. Colleagues and supervisors treat them as less competent or capable due to their health status, even though HIV does not affect their job performance.
• Scenario 3: Workplace Gossip A colleague learns about someone's HIV status and begins to spread rumors about it within the office. The person with HIV feels stigmatized and uncomfortable, leading to a decrease in their self-esteem and productivity due to the hostile environment.

Partners

• Scenario 1: Fear of Intimacy A person discloses their HIV status to their romantic partner, and the partner reacts with fear, refusing to engage in sexual intimacy or using protection. The partner' s fear stems from misinformation about HIV transmission, leading to emotional distancing in the relationship.
• Scenario 2: Betrayal and Blame A partner accuses the person living with HIV of betraying them, questioning where they contracted the virus. The blame is placed on the individual, with no recognition that HIV can be contracted in a variety of ways and that it is not an indication of infidelity or moral failure.
• Scenario 3: Emotional Rejection A person with HIV discloses their status, but their partner responds by saying they cannot be in a relationship with someone who is HIV-positive. This emotional rejection creates a deep sense of abandonment, even though the person living with HIV is otherwise healthy and has an undetectable viral load.

Community

• Scenario 1: Social Exclusion A person living with HIV is excluded from community events, activities, or social circles due to fear or misunderstanding of the virus. Neighbors and local organizations may shun the person, leaving them feeling marginalized and isolated from their own community.
• Scenario 2: Public Stigma and Discrimination A person with HIV faces verbal abuse or ridicule in public spaces, such as being taunted or mocked when others discover their status. They may experience bullying or harassment due to the stigma associated with HIV.
• Scenario 3: Limited Access to Support Services In some communities, people living with HIV may not have access to local healthcare services or social support due to the stigma surrounding the condition. Healthcare providers or local support groups may turn them away, citing their status or treating them with judgment, further alienating the person in need of help.