Illustration: Hanna Gustavsson

Theme Women and AIDS

The theme Women and AIDS puts the light on the many stories we have in the Face of AIDS Archive told by women, aspects on hiv and AIDS often not getting enough attention. Apart from films from the archive the theme also includes texts written by writers Emma Gray Munthe, Erik Gunnarsson and Izabella Rosengren and also unique illustrations by Hanna Gustavsson. The theme is a collaboration with Stockholms Kvinnohistoriska.

HIV and AIDS in the movies
Emma Gray MuntheHanna Gustavsson
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Since 1981 and the first cases of what was later to be called HIV and AIDS, moving images and film – like always, mostly American – have played a big part in how society has come to understand and be informed about the epidemic. According to many surveys over the years, more so than from sources like friends, doctors, school or newspapers. And, like the majority of films in film history, the stories have mostly been made by men, about men.
Gender inequality increases women's vulnerability to HIV
Izabella Rosengren

"One night, I was coming back home at 3 am, drunk, and I decided to have a short cut, but in that corner, suddenly from nowhere, two men appear, one in the front and one behind me. By that time, I didn’t know I was at risk of HIV, but I knew that the rape situation changed me forever. Now that I have studied the issue, the connections between violence against women and HIV, I can tell you that is so evident, that we cannot avoid working with that. You really have to link those two issues."
How feminists responded to the AIDS crisis
Erik Gunnarsson

The history of HIV and AIDS is not only about medical concerns, but of social exclusions and political struggles as well. From the outbreak of the epidemic, inequality and patterns of discrimination affected both the spread of the disease and various responses to it.

Selections from the archive

00:29:30

Women and AIDS

This production from 1990 debates the worldwide HIV/AIDS situation for women and children. The stigmatization of female sexuality is considered the primary reason of women's particularly exposed situation when it comes to sexually transmitted diseases.

00:11:47

Women at the Frontline of the AIDS Response

This film is about women from different parts of the world who are active in the HIV activist movement. They discuss gender inequality and the exposed situation of women and girls and explain the educational and empowering work which they are doing in their communities.

00:24:51

Women at the Frontline

This is the story of four women living with HIV, who are active in the work against HIV/AIDS in Indonesia, Bolivia, Kenya and Sweden. They tell about their lives and their work with health education, advocacy, and support of women and children.

00:19:00

Frontliners

This is a documentary about community networks in Southern Africa focusing on educating people about HIV prevention and providing support and care for people living with HIV and AIDS.

Statistics

In 29 countries women require the consent of a spouse/partner to access sexual and reproductive health services.
Source: UNAIDS
AIDS is the main cause of death among women of reproductive age globally.
Source: UNAIDS
In sub-Saharan Africa seven out of ten young women do not have comprehensive knowledge about HIV.
Source: UNAIDS
Women living with HIV are five times more likely to develop cervical cancer
Source: UNAIDS

HIV and AIDS in the movies