Abstract
Although, in India, HIV was first reported in the year 1986, its spread in the initial decades has been rather very fast. While the Government has taken stringent steps to arrest this disease, yet NACO reports that nearly 0.32% of the population suffers from it. This article is based on a feminist study and focuses on how the hapless women succumb to this dreaded disease, because of the social milieu they live in. It brings out how women have become victim on account of her lowered social status, lack of awareness in her, as also and importantly in the care givers. Impact of family income, caste and education on the awareness are also brought out.In conclusion it brings out that, human sexuality must be treated as natural experience, and should be not be linked to morality but at the same time it must bear responsibility. Most importantly it highlights the need for creating greater awareness of the disease through all means available.
[1] Research Scholar, Department of Women’s Studies, Akkamahadevi Women’s University Vijayapur, Karnataka.
[2] Research guide and Chairperson, Department of Women’s Studies, Akkamahadevi Women’s University Vijayapur, Karnataka.