Stigma means different things to different people.

A dictionary definition of stigma is ‘a disgrace or a reproach attached to something.’

Stigma is often described as the negative labels or stereotypes used when talking about something or somebody.  People sometimes associate stigma with being isolated, abused or discriminated against.

People who are stigmatised are marked out as being different and stigma is often attached to things which are seen as embarrassing or a danger. Stigma can be used as a way of denying dignity, respect and rights to some members of society, and can result in people being isolated or abused.  It can lead to discrimination, where people are treated less well because of a characteristic they have. 

Ever since the first cases of AIDS were reported in the early 1980s, people with HIV have been stigmatised. There are a number of reasons for this:

• HIV is a serious, life-threatening illness. There is a long history of illnesses being stigmatised, even when such illnesses don’t pose a health risk to others, like cancer, or can be prevented and treated, such as tuberculosis (TB).
• HIV is often transmitted through sex or drug use. Many people make moral judgements about these kinds of behaviour.
• HIV particularly affects certain groups that already experience discrimination. In the UK this includes gay men, Africans and injecting drug users. But people with HIV from other groups also experience stigma.

The stigma that is associated with HIV is used to maintain some of the inequalities that already exist in society. The actual denial of equal and fair treatment to people with HIV is a form of discrimination.