Language as a representational technology: A qualitative sociological review in case of HIV/AIDS related stigma study

The most of the people apply to words about HIV affect the way people living with HIV feel about themselves, differently. Such words also have an impact on most of the people make out another way of think about those living with HIV. However, HIV/AIDS stigma denotes the possession of negative traits that marks one out as different from others through the stigmatized language. Therefore, many people with an HIV positive status choose not to disclose.

We conducted a qualitative based phenomenological theory to develop a theoretical model explaining how language impact on HIV disclosure and what the mechanisms are that determine whether people choose to disclose or not. We conducted in-depth interviews among 20 people living with HIV in Paschim Medinipore district, West Bengal province, India. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis method, performing three levels of open, axial, and selective coding.

Our theoretical model illustrates how the language performs varieties of institutional function in names of representational technology and dominant systems to social control over people with HIV, namely a community protection and a public health system, independently or jointly with state operator, shape contexts, mechanisms and outcomes for HIV disclosure.

This theoretical model can be used in understanding the processes of stigmatization of HIV disclosure in a societal level where HIV is concentrated in vulnerable populations and is highly stigmatized, and in determining how HIV related discourse to mould and shape larger masses thoughts and knowledge. Discourse therefore; seem to be culturally and socially organized way of saying.