Stigmatization is a social practice that brands an individual or group as disgraceful and devalues them because of some actual or perceived characteristic. It is a powerful force that negatively influences not only the way an individual or group is viewed, but also often the individual or group’s self-perception and self-image.


Blame // Shame// Judgment // Insult // Rumour // Assumptions // Gossip // Ridicule // Suspicion // Neglect // Isolation // Rejection // Harassment // Abuse // Violence

The stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS is incredibly complex, particularly because of its association with sensitive subjects like sex, sexuality, and drug use.

People with HIV who are stigmatized are shunned, discredited, rejected, or penalized, sometimes by strangers but often by friends and family, which makes coping with and fighting the disease all the more challenging.

Discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS is so prevalent, and is expressed in so many explicit and implicit ways that many may not even realize that they could be contributing to the problem, or that their judgments could be negatively affecting those around them.

It is time for society to take steps to prevent, address, and eliminate unwarranted and unjust HIV-related discrimination.


Stigma contributes to silence, denial, and secrecy.
There are many reasons that people living with HIV/AIDS do not disclose their status: to avoid conversations about sensitive subjects, to protect their families, their homes, their jobs, or their friendships.

I left my job, home, family, and moved far away from anyone I knew after I was diagnosed. I felt I had done something wrong and didn’t want anyone to know.

Stigma contributes to isolation and withdrawal.
Studies have found that people living with HIV/AIDS who experience insensitive or blaming remarks from other people are more likely to be withdrawn, isolated, and passive in coping with their HIV status.

Hearing negative comments about people with HIV really eats away at me. For example, I’ve heard people say people with AIDS should be put on a desert island. That makes me feel I should say something like: “hey, you’re talking about me. I’m one of those people.” But I always end up holding back my comments.

Stigma contributes to self-stigma.
The sense of self that people living with HIV/AIDS have is often influenced by the attitudes and behaviours of those around them. People with HIV can have very negative feelings about themselves, especially when they are first diagnosed. They may even react to themselves as others in their society do: with blame, shame, and rejection.

Sometimes—when I’m really struggling with all of this—I have to fight against the feeling that I brought this on myself. In my heart I know that no one deserves this, but still… the bad days can be pretty rough.

Learn more about responding to stigma and think differently