Language, identity and HIV: why do we keep talking about the responsible and responsive use of language? Language matters

• Published in: Journal of the International AIDS Society Vol. 15; no. S 2
• Main Authors: Dilmitis, Sophie, Edwards, Olive, Hull, Beri, Margolese, Shari, Mason, Naisiadet, Namiba, Angelina, Nyambe, Moono, Paxton, Susan, Petretti, Silvia, Ross, Gracia Violeta, Welbourn, Alice, Zakowics, Anna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Geneva International AIDS Society 01-07-2012; John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; AIDS; Care and treatment; Empowerment; HIV; HIV (Viruses); HIV infection; HIV patients; Human immunodeficiency virus; identity; Language; Language usage; Letter to the Editor; MTCT; people living with HIV; Prevention; Psychological aspects; Social aspects; terminology; vertical transmission; women living with HIV; Zimbabwe
• ISSN: 1758-2652; 1758-2652
• DOI: 10.7448/IAS.15.4.17990

Language matters. It impacts on how we think about ourselves, as individuals within our families and within society. As advocates and activists, we constantly use language as a tool to effect change. People living with HIV have been critical in shaping this language over the last 30 years and still play a central role in ensuring that new discourse in the HIV field does not stigmatize, but rather that it catalyzes empowerment for our community members. In this annotation, we seek to shift the language used in relation to ourselves, our medical condition, our bodies, our identities and the events we face, towards something more life‐enhancing, self‐affirming and positive in outlook.