POZ Women's Empowerment Through Community-Based Research

published on March 9, 2016 by Shazia Islam and Marisol Desbiens, Peer Research Associates, CHIWOS, in Huffington Post

"Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality" is a noble and necessary undertaking and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) to effectively eradicate AIDS can be a realistic possibility since we understand the correlation between gender inequality and POZ women's (women living with HIV) capacity to maintain their health and well-being.

Gender inequalities can exist in all socioeconomic and cultural spheres -- at times reflected in very obvious manifestations of male power and aggression, and at other times, in more subtle and historic systems and traditions that simultaneously exploit women's wisdom and devalue their labour. For instance, in our current year of 2016, in the areas of employment, women in North America still have to struggle against wage disparities, glass ceilings, old-boys-club brand of exclusion and discrimination, workplace sexual harassment, among other gross inequities and assaults on their dignity and humanity.

POZ women may face further incursions on their mental, physical, and emotional health, as gender-based disparities often interfere with socioeconomic stability. Employed may become unemployed or underemployed. Unstable housing may lead to a risk of homelessness.

Food insecurity may increase the signs and symptoms of poor nutrition. Being in an unhealthy and abusive relationship can severely affect a woman's sense of safety, security, and her mental and physical health. Not adhering to or not being able to access ARV treatment could bring about the health conditions that cause AIDS.

To add to this, POZ women who identify as Trans, LBQ2S, and/or who are racialized may face a greater degree of gender-based inequality and violence due to the rigid intolerance in heteronormative society towards gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethno-racial difference.

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