I haven't done a whole lot in this class this week because I did some work ahead of time and was already caught up. But I did go back to get my HIV test results which came back negative. I have been thinking a lot about how it would feel to have HIV though. I have a friend who has genital herpes and he was saying how it sucks having to tell girls he gets involved with that he has it. And I have to admit that I used to be physically attracted to him but after finding out that he has herpes I'm not really sexually attracted to him. This is when I first started realizing how it would feel to have an STD.
Even with something like herpes, if I fell in love with the person, I wouldn't mind taking the chance of catching it. But for someone with HIV, no matter how much I felt like I loved them, I would never sleep with them. I feel horrible for people with any kind of STD, but I feel the worst for people with HIV. Pretty much their only hope of having sex is not telling people and using a condom, or sleeping with someone who also has HIV and using a condom. I don't think many people who don't have HIV would willingly have sex with someone who does. And as far as love, most healthy people wouldn't give love a chance with someone that they know is going to die.
Did you Know:
"In the North Carolina study of HIV infection in black women, the participants most commonly reported that that their reasons for risky behavior were financial dependence on male partners, feeling invincible, low self-esteem coupled with the need to feel loved by a male figure, and alcohol and drug use." All of these reasons are bad ones but understandable. Financial independence and alcohol and drug use are the ones that are a little harder to control I think because they don't have to do with your feelings. But feeling invincible and having low self-esteem can be worked on more easily. Just talking to someone or thinking about it can make someone realize that they are not invincible and they do not need a man to feel self-worth.
Works Cited:
CDC. HIV Transmission Among Black Women—North Carolina, 2004. MMWR 2005;54:89–94.
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I feel the same way about having relations with someone that was HIV positive. It is such a risky chance even if you the couple is using protection. But I disagree with your statement about haelthy people giving love a chance with someone that is infected. The ladies at the panal both found someone to love and the gentlemen love them back, even though they are positive. The gentlemen were not HIV positive. I was watching Oprah yesterday and the topic was HIV and the girls on the show also found love, even though they were positive. All men in these situations are fully aware that the ladies they are seeing are HIV positive. I guess I am saying just becasue you are sick dosen't mean you are a lost cause, you will find someone, might take longer, but it will happen.
ReplyDeleteHey,
ReplyDeleteIt's really hard. I understand the point your making about not sleeping with an HIV + person, but I also feel so sad for those who have the disease and can't enjoy their lives. This world is just so unfair. I tried to picture myself with HIV, but it's always hard to just imagine what would happen. I really hope I never get this disease...
It's amazing how that test will do that. It's not a common thing to contemplate having it, but even with a negative result it really gets you thinking. I haven't really thought about what it'd be like as far relationships... your friend is a good guy for being honest with his partners about herpes... but you're right, how much more intense would it be if it wasn't herpes he had to admit to, but having HIV. Even in the context of love... it's a difficult position.
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is wow. I guess we all have our standards. I would hope that if true love is involved a way is found to be with that person. I do have a question... If both partners are positive and in a monogamous relationship, is there really a need to use protection? Assuming that opportunistic infections aren't contractible. I'll post the same question. Just curious.
ReplyDeleteYeah, if both partners have HIV they still have to use protection because it can make it worse.
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