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Glossary Affected by HIV/AIDS: This term is used in this thesis to refer to persons whose close relatives have been infected by HIV or have suffered from AIDS. Such persons’ lives become directly influenced by HIV infection and its emotional, psychological and sociological ramifications (UNAIDS, 2004a). AIDS stigma: AIDS-related stigma (or more simply AIDS stigma) referstoprejudice,discounting,discreditinganddiscrimination directed at people perceived to have AIDS or HIV, and the individuals, groups and communities with which they are associated. This stigma leads to feelings of shame for the infected and affected. It also causes denial and silence among the affected and infected people. Gender equality: The term is used to reflect an equal sharing of opportunities, resources and power between women and men. It also refers to equal access to education, health, administrative and managerial positions, equal pay for equal work, and equal political representation. Gender inequalities are seen to contribute to the spread of HIV and AIDS and to ways in which men and women are affected. Gender: The term is used to refer to culturally specific patterns of behaviour, which can either be actual or normative and are attached to the sexes. Gender is a socially constructed way of distinguishing between males and females. It is what we learn to be as male and female. Ramazanoglu and Holland’s (2002) view of gender is adapted, that “feminist knowledge of gender should include practical social investigation of gendered lives, experiences, relationships and similarities” (p. 5). Researching AIDS, Sexuality and Gender 262 Infected by HIV/AIDS: This is a term commonly used to refer to those who have had a blood test whose results indicate they carry the HIV virus, which is believed to cause AIDS. People with the virus are generally referred to as HIV–positive. Pandemic/epidemic: The words are used interchangeably throughout this thesis to mean a disease that is prevalent in an entire country. ...

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