WOMEN’S VULNERABILITIES TO HIV/AIDS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOCIAL STATUS—THE CASE STUDY OF YUNNAN PROVINCE, CHINA

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to analyze women’s vulnerabilities to HIV/AIDS from the perspective of their social status in Yunnan Province. Three main questions were asked: what are the current situation of women’s HIV/AIDS infection and the reasons behind the epidemic in contemporary Yunnan Province, China, how do sociocultural factors which have effects on women’s social status influence their vulnerabilities to HIV/AIDS, and what kinds of strategies from the aspects of policies and practical activities are being used in Yunnan Province to empower women. This non-experimental research was designed as a case study. Data was mainly collected through web search engines, databases, telephone interviews and informal talks. Inequality gender analytical framework was used to guide the analysis. During the research, seven determinants—the ethic of family and culture expectation; education and knowledge; migration; violence against women; stigma and discrimination; laws and policies as well as economic inequality were demonstrated to put women at lower status which leads to the greater risk of HIV/AIDS infection than men in Yunnan Province. And then I tried to demonstrate integrating gender into HIV/AIDS policies and practical activities in Yunnan is the useful way to empower women to inhibit and reverse the epidemic.