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As a Woman

Submitted on Nov 19, 2021 by  Red40something
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Suit and hat indicating an invisible person underneath.

As a woman, I know what it feels like to be invisible. As a Black woman that feeling is sometimes intensified. It gets juxtaposed with occasionally being the person everyone is looking at, but not really seeing. In a time of "racial reckoning" such as what's currently going on in the world right now, the need to be seen, and heard, is more important than ever if we expect to elicit change.

Being a minority woman living with HIV comes with a bit of invisibility. Forgive my bluntness, but I imagine being anything other than a gay man living with HIV is a little like that. I'm trying not to be offensive—only to live my truth by saying that, but the truth always seems to offend someone these days. My truth is that I am a Black woman living with HIV, and sometimes I struggle to be both seen and heard. I struggled at the beginning of my diagnosis to find faces that looked like mine. Voices that sounded like mine. Struggled to find services that considered my femininity and the unique experience of being a woman, let alone a Black woman. I struggle now to see regular representation in literature, research, and media of our presence and place in the big picture.

 

Being seen and heard in this space can be complicated. It's a double-edged sword of wanting someone to understand and comfort your insecurities, but at the same time not wanting to open yourself up to hurt.

 

According to UNAIDS, in 2020 53% of people living with HIV were women and girls. Black folks, both male and female, are disproportionately affected by HIV. Yet, Black men, Black women, and really, women of any race, have never been seen as a face of what HIV could look like. Through no fault of their own, White gay men became "the face" of HIV/AIDS in the beginning of the epidemic. There are a lot of women's organizations focusing on women and fighting for a seat at the table, but it shouldn't be a fight. Women have always contributed to caring for those living and dying with HIV. At the same time, they have often been left out of study trials. Even though strides and advancements have been made in treatments, life expectancy, and quality of life, too many old stigmas and old prejudices persist. With statistics like the ones above, women need to be seen.

No matter who you are, in a crisis, identifying with others like you gives you the starting point for goals and boundaries and your journey to overcoming. Being seen and heard in this space can be complicated. It's a double-edged sword of wanting someone to understand and comfort your insecurities, but at the same time not wanting to open yourself up to hurt. You want to be seen but not stigmatized. You want to be heard, but you don't want someone else to tell your story or your truth in a way that doesn't honor you. When you're living with HIV there are levels of acceptance and peace. I think that for me the most important thing is that people with HIV learn to see themselves as they want to be first so that whether or not someone else sees you in a positive light (pun intended), it won't matter because you see yourself as who you are and it's enough for you. There is power in just being enough until you get to abundance. I will forever believe that stigma will persist and therefore so will new infections, until we normalize what people consider abnormal. That means everyone needs to be seen and heard, so people can see themselves, and let go of shame and fear and get real about risk and testing.

Be well. You matter.

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A Girl Like Me blogger, Bridgette (Red40Something) and logo for A Girl Like Me.

 

This blog was originally posted on Positively Aware's "Being Bridgette".

Submitted by Red40something
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I think we are all always a work in progress aren't we? Especially in this space living with this virus. Virtuual hugs!

 

Submitted by Marig2016
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Sister B! A mouthful, nothing less expected. I can always count on you to give it real, honest, fresh and raw. Often times many of us join platforms such as these for our voices to be heard but sometimes because of our own doing we get lost because of outside worry or judgement. This has always been a safe space for US to express our feelings without those fears and I thank you so much for your work on and off this platform! I truly do as I'm sure many others would agree. Your leadership in this "fight" is much appreciated xoxo 

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