Jacque's Question

December 1, 2012

What if I had HIV?

I did this assignment having curiosity about the reactions I would get. I wanted to see if people would say something. I wanted to know if they would ask questions or want to know more. Would I get nasty looks or would people make comments behind my back? I thought that I would get different reactions based on the people I saw and their ages. I was looking forward to doing this assignment.

When I was wearing my t- shirt I was trying to act normal. I wore it to school first.  I didn’t get any looks out of the norm.   I had a few people ask if I was wearing my t- shirt for sociology. I said yes that I was. I had a few not even notice until others said something. At school it was like I was just wearing a t-shirt. I felt comfortable and like I was anybody else. I was curious if any of my classmates would ask questions or say something. Most of them thought it was cool and no big deal. A few asked how was it going and were people saying anything.

            

I had family in town from California so I also wore it out to dinner with them. Most of them said nothing. Two of my cousins asked why I was wearing the t- shirt. One asked did I have HIV. I told her the truth and why I was wearing it. She thought maybe I was doing it to bring awareness to people. I told her I was doing it to see how people would react and would they ask questions. My cousin said that she thought it was a good idea and I should wear the t- shirt gain. My husband had a lot of concern about what people would say. He was nervous that I would get a bad reaction and be upset. We have an age gap and I think that the generation my husband grew up in has different ideas about HIV than mine. My husband however; didn’t notice until I asked him later in the night what he thought.

It was easy to wear my t-shirt and not say anything unless I was asked. I would wear the t-shirt again. I think if I present myself the way I did this time I would get positive reactions like I did. Some wanted to know and others didn’t seem to care.

I had a good experience no one said any bad comments. I just put the shirt in the morning and took it off that night. I was able to take it off and someone with HIV can’t. I don’t know what it would be like to be in their shoes. I think they have more courage than I do. I had fear about someone saying something. How would I react, what would I say? I knew I would tell the truth but that’s because I don’t have it. What if I did? Would I still tell someone the truth? That’s a question I can’t answer, because I don’t know.