HIV/AIDS : A Threat to Indian Feminism

Kumar Parag

University of Allahabad, India

In this global world HIV/AIDS is not just merely a health issue.It is a multifaceted issue which cannot be reduced to medical terminology only. HIV/AIDS is very much a social/ human problem in Developing Countries like India. 

The research shows that 90% of the women who are living with HIV/AIDS are married women and are in monogamous relationships. There are estimated 2 million women infected by HIV in India that is why the research groups in India are now calling AIDS as 'women disease'. In the majority of cases, the woman would not have even known about the possibility of contracting the disease through sexual relations with her husband/ partner. Even if she knew and was aware of the precautions that ought to be taken, she would not have been in a position to insist. 

In India the major cause of turning of HIV/ AIDS into an epidemic is due to gender inequality. Secondly, the Indian social structure is masculine dominated and the patriarch of the family whether nuclear or joint family are males and women are just their subservient which makes them more vulnerable to this disease. The major transmitter of HIV are their male partners.

The dearth of empirically derived knowledge about sexual behaviour has unfortunately given rise to host of myths and unfounded stereotypes about sex which resulted in rapid increase of HIV cases. Besides sex, the practice of tattooing is common in rural and tribal areas to both men and women. They use same needle for pricking. This very practice is becoming a means of transmission of HIV now a days as tattooing is must for rural and tribal women. However,the research shows that women are least affected by HIV in the cases of blood transfusion as in most hospitals blood test is mandatory. 

Women infected with these disease are either blamed or not recognised as potential patients .The consequence can be delayed diagnosis and treatment, stigmatization, loss of income and violation and human rights. Social and psychological burdens on women are more than men. These include problems related to pregnancy and motherhood, rejection of marital partner, loss of security etc. In many cases women have increased risk to HIV because they are from lower strata of society and are totally economically depended on their male partners. Preventive strategies are taken by policy-makers. 

In the state of Andhra Pradesh, the government has made a law that before marriage both male and female have to take HIV tests. Besides government, non-governmental organizations and other agencies have designed innovative schemes to educate women so that the transmission of this deadly disease can be avoided within the parameters of Indian social structure. My paper will explain how political,social and economic impact on Indian women by HIV/AIDS epidemic and the crusade taken by government, various agencies and organizations against this dreaded virus.

Abstracts

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