The challenge of HIV - social stigma or disability?

McTigue, P. ORCID: 0000-0002-8266-4200, 2010. The challenge of HIV - social stigma or disability? Web Journal of Current Legal Issues (5).

Preview

Text 205961_8219 Mctigue Publisher.pdf Download (3MB) | Preview

Abstract

The nature of discrimination against people living with HIV and with AIDS ("PLHA") is rooted in deeper stigmatisation than discrimination against other groups. Reasons for this include the association of HIV/AIDS with behaviours that may be considered socially unacceptable by many people. To combat such discrimination, HIV is deemed to be a "disability" under the Equality Act 2010. Whilst this protection has been welcomed by various activists and policy groups within the field, it will be argued that the decision to classify HIV as a disability is an inadequate response to the unique and multi-faceted discrimination faced by PLHA. To achieve this this article will examine the history of the virus; current epidemiology within the UK; the extent to which HIV accords with traditional models of disability and the definition employed by the Equality Act 2010; and finally, the manner in which HIV is socially constructed and how this has compounded discrimination against PLHA.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Web Journal of Current Legal Issues
Creators:	McTigue, P.
Publisher:	Web Journal of Current Legal Issues, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Date:	2010
Number:	5
Rights:	© 2010, Web Journal of Current Legal Issues
Divisions:	Schools > Nottingham Law School
Record created by:	EPrints Services
Date Added:	09 Oct 2015 09:51
Last Modified:	09 Jun 2017 13:12
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/3794

Actions (login required)

Edit View

Views

Downloads