Constructing an "HIV-Killer": HIV Non-Disclosure and the Techniques of Vilification. Issue 4 (3rd April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Speakman, Erica R.
• Is Part Of: Deviant behavior. Volume 38:Issue 4(2017)
• Page Start: 392
• Page End: 405
• Publication Date: 2017-04-03
• Subjects: Deviant behavior -- Periodicals; 302.54205
• DOI: 10.1080/01639625.2016.1197010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0163-9625

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Donileen Loseke has argued that social problems claims-making typically involves the construction of "people-categories" and more specifically the casting of victims and villains. While the processes by which victims are constructed have received attention in the literature, this is less so for villains. This article extends Loseke's work by using the case of HIV non-disclosers to explore precisely how people are typified as villains. I analyze discourse—or "talk"—surrounding the criminalization of HIV non-disclosure and non-disclosers with a view to identifying some of the strategies used to vilify non-disclosers. I refer to these strategies as the techniques of vilification .