AIDS in the 1980s

Paper Summary:

This paper presents an open exploration of AIDS in the United States during the 1980s. The author examines the definition of AIDS, the stigma that it carried as a "gay disease," and incorporates information about the Ryan White Care Act. It also explores the statistics of AIDS in the United States.

From the Paper:

"In current discussion of AIDS an old tobacco ad comes to mind. In the ad women are smoking in public and the cigarette company slogan is "You've come a long way baby". This is how AIDS can be viewed in the United States today. While it is still a deadly disease and is spreading rapidly through the young adult population, society has come a long way in its understanding of AIDS. In addition the nation is more tolerant of the disease than it has been in the past. A disease that was once called a "gay thing" is now accepted and recognized as a disease that knows no barriers. It impacts the young the old, the rich the poor, the gay and the straight. It has gone from being considered a gay disease to being just a disease. Society used to shun those who had it. Today while there is still a stigma with it those who have it do not get stigmatized in the same manner as they did in the 80's. This is due to public education and people such as Ryan White who paved the way for compassion and understanding when it comes to AIDS."

More papers on AIDS in the 1980s:

• Essay # 32483 : "AIDS in The Workplace"
• Essay # 6077 : "AIDS in the U.S."
• Essay # 70479 : "AIDS in the African American Community"

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