Abstract

GUIMARAES, Carmen Dora. "She had tf comingl " the stigma of sexually transmiffed HIV infection in women. Rev. Estud. Fem. [online]. 1996, vol.04, n.02, pp.295-318. ISSN 1806-9584.

For the past 15 years of the epidemic in Brazil me sexual high risk categones for HiV/AIDS defined by the National Program for STD/AIDS for prevention programs refer to socially discriminated populations such as the female prostitute On the otherhand statistics over the past six years indicate an important nse In cases of family women the majonty from the popular classes This fact has not generated the same interest nor produced specific prevention measures According to official discourse the vufnerability of these women is dueto their lack of social and personal resources Once satisfied the problem is solved However from the women s perspective the value of the family and the moral feminine code of sexual passivity is what garantees her dignity and self-respect as opposed to the woman of the street In times of AIDS these characterlstics are reinforced to avoid discrimination to the pont of ignorng safer sex at the cost of her lite