Reflections of Inequalities: The Construction of HIV/AIDS in Africa in the Australian Print Media

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Author(s)
Wenham, Kathryn
Harris, Neil
Sebar, Bernadette
Year published
2009
Metadata
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The HIV/AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa prompted industrialised nations to initiate a coordinated global response, which to date has been inadequate in reducing the pandemic's impact in Africa. To better understand this response, this article explores the portrayal of the pandemic in the Australian print media using critical discourse analysis to unpack the discourses surrounding the construction of the pandemic. In particular, it examines how issues of power, ideology, causation and responsibility are expressed and utilised to validate certain stances and responses. The findings demonstrate that the media presents ...
View more >The HIV/AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa prompted industrialised nations to initiate a coordinated global response, which to date has been inadequate in reducing the pandemic's impact in Africa. To better understand this response, this article explores the portrayal of the pandemic in the Australian print media using critical discourse analysis to unpack the discourses surrounding the construction of the pandemic. In particular, it examines how issues of power, ideology, causation and responsibility are expressed and utilised to validate certain stances and responses. The findings demonstrate that the media presents a particular perspective on the pandemic that favours the agendas of industrialised nations. Linguistic devices uncovered racist, medical and development discourses that give voice to industrialised nations and silence those from sub-Saharan Africa, limiting discussion on alternative responses. These findings highlight the utility of critical discourse analysis in understanding power structures that construct and influence responses to public health issues.
View less >
View more >The HIV/AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa prompted industrialised nations to initiate a coordinated global response, which to date has been inadequate in reducing the pandemic's impact in Africa. To better understand this response, this article explores the portrayal of the pandemic in the Australian print media using critical discourse analysis to unpack the discourses surrounding the construction of the pandemic. In particular, it examines how issues of power, ideology, causation and responsibility are expressed and utilised to validate certain stances and responses. The findings demonstrate that the media presents a particular perspective on the pandemic that favours the agendas of industrialised nations. Linguistic devices uncovered racist, medical and development discourses that give voice to industrialised nations and silence those from sub-Saharan Africa, limiting discussion on alternative responses. These findings highlight the utility of critical discourse analysis in understanding power structures that construct and influence responses to public health issues.
View less >
Journal Title
Health Sociology Review
Volume
18
Issue
3
Copyright Statement
© 2009 e-Content Management Pty Ltd. This is the author-manuscript version of this paper. Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. Please refer to the journal website for access to the definitive, published version
Subject
Sociology
Social change
Sociology not elsewhere classified