AIDS Mushrooms through Gender-based

Violence and Discrimination

Anirudha Alam

The conventional gender roles that underpin sexual inequality and violence are
entrenched by dyed-in-the-wool social norms. So women are always in the vicious circle
of vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. It is an essential fact that gender-based violence is a key
factor in increasing women’s risk of contracting the virus skyward.

Social discrimination engenders several factors associated with women’s subordinate

position that it results in multidimensional likelihood of HIV infection. What’s more!
Capitalizing on this discrimination, gender-based violence is the leading route of all
vulnerabilities. Mostly these are the consequences of harmful traditional practices which
put women at higher risk and socio-economic prejudices which undermine women’s life
skills of protecting themselves.

A study executed by the Asia Pacific Network of People Living with HIV (APN+)
identified some HIV-related issues in which women suffered extensively from higher
levels of discrimination than man. The issues are related to being ridiculed and insulted,
physically assaulted, removed from or asked to leave a public establishment, forced to
change place of residence, excluded from social function, advised not to have a child
after being diagnosed as HIV-positive and suffering exclusion by family members as well
as losing financial support from family members. Another in-depth study in three African
countries found that both of men and women are to be stigmatized become of breaking
sexual norms. But the society led by exclusive male hegemony put the blame on women
more easily.

The factors entwined with poverty, illiteracy, female genital mutilation, polygamy, wife
inheritance, rape by intimate partners, early marriage, having multiple sex partners,
minimal access to productive resources, forced sterilization, prostitution, sexual
harassment and assault at work-places as well as different conflict situations make
women face an epidemic of violence every day. It is realized that women are two to four
times more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS during unprotect sexual intercourse than men. In
various parts of the world, rape and sexual violence are supposed to be weapon of war. In
view of that, gender-based violence is an all-too-common feature of coeval conflicts. It is
used to attribute a moral code based on rigorously and thoroughly differentiated roles for
male and female. For instance, women victimized by gender-based violence are among
the casualties of the continuing internal conflict in Colombia on a great scale.

Realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all is an essential element in a
global response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic through preventing stigma and respective
discrimination against people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. Armed conflicts and
natural disasters always add extra dimension to discrimination oriented violence. So role
of cultural, family, ethical and religious factors should be gender sensitized internalizing
right-based approach in combating endemic and ensuring treatment, care and support.

As per the findings of the research entitled ‘Role of Safe Sexual Practices Reduce
Gender-based Violence’ conducted by Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation in
2006, ABC – Abstain (from sexual intercourse), Be faithful (to one sexual partner) and
use Condom – approach has a great impact to protect the vulnerable women stigmatized
often for their risky behavior. It has the potential comprehensively to contribute to
protection from exposure to HIV/AIDS. This approach is the stepping stone to reducing
gender based violence as a whole.

Bearing in mind empowering women is essential for reducing vulnerability, their social
security and economic opportunities have to be ensured. Discrimination, unequal
property and inheritance laws and petty access to knowledge confine women’s income-
earning possibilities. Thus inequality between male and female thrives on enhancing the
means of violence. This is why in the aspect of preventing HIV/AIDS, there is no
alternative of making women self-reliant that they would be able to protect them from
onslaught of discriminations and gender-based violence.

Anirudha Alam
Deputy Director (Information & Development Communication) & Trainer
BEES (Bangladesh Extension Education Services)
183, Lane 2, Eastern Road, New DOHS
Mohakhali, Dhaka 1206
Bangladesh.
Website: http://anirudhaalam.onsugar.com/
Phone: 01718342876, 9889732, 9889733 (office), 8050514 (res.)
E-mail: anirudhaalam@yahoo.com