HIV/AIDS, Disability, and Viral Masculinities

Abstract

AbstractThis article explores the relationship between HIV/AIDS, disability, and masculinity, critically analysing how these elements intersect and influence societal norms and individual identities. It begins by examining the categorisation of HIV/AIDS as a disability, questioning the adequacy of traditional disability frameworks in capturing the complex realities of living with HIV/AIDS. The discussion extends to the implications of such categorisation, considering both the medical and social models of disability, and how these models interact with legal protections and social stigmas. The article also discusses how HIV/AIDS as disability impacts conceptions of masculinity, with a specific focus on how practices like bugchasing subvert traditional notions of health, risk, and masculinity, examining cultural constructions of masculinity in relation to HIV/AIDS and highlighting how societal expectations and popular culture representations often perpetuate certain masculine ideals while marginalising others. By examining these intersections, the article challenges established health paradigms and societal norms around disability, HIV/AIDS, and masculinity. Ultimately, it aims to broaden the dialogue around health, disability, and gender, advocating for policies that reflect the nuanced realities of people living with HIV/AIDS and encouraging a reassessment of entrenched perceptions.