Larkan, Fiona (2004) Narratives and Silences in Discussions of AIDS/HIV Amongst Young People in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Irish Journal of Anthropology, 7. ISSN 1393-8592

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Abstract

This paper centres on discussions surrounding people living with HIV and AIDS in Mpumalanga province of South Africa and challenges an accepted hypothesis that a Euro-American understanding of stigma is the main reason for the silence surrounding HIV and AIDS. Through the example of Sipho’s silence above, and narratives of various participants, I examine the choices available to this community in the face of the calamity that is a provincial HIV infection rate of 27.3%3 and the silences that often accompany a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS. I begin by identifying alternative, although not necessarily mutually exclusive, cultural mechanisms, which are in place in Mpumalanga. I look at the role of stigma, whether “felt” or “enacted” (Scambler & Hopkins, 1986) and the internalisation and reproduction of external public criticisms (Goffman 1986). While some stigma does exist, it is important to emphasise that in each model identified, silence plays a major role in the strategy of a people working to protect, restructure, and re-affirm their community. This paper, then, is my attempt to understand each of these mechanisms and reconcile some of those divergent views and discordant voices.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	AIDS/HIV; Mpumalanga; South Africa;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Anthropology
Item ID:	1965
Depositing User:	IR Editor
Date Deposited:	01 Jun 2010 14:14
Journal or Publication Title:	Irish Journal of Anthropology
Publisher:	The Anthropological Association of Ireland (AAI)
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://www.anthropologyireland.org/
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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