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Angels of mercy or sullied whores: towards an alternative vision of women and AIDS in South Africa

Abstract The phenomenon of HIV/AIDS is a global concern and is represented in many discourses. This article draws on several different kinds of discourse and explores how women, in particular, are constructed in the discourse of HIV/AIDS in South Africa. The discourse is shown to be imbued with patriarchal values detrimental to women who have been represented dichotomously as “angels of mercy” or “sullied whores”. In a cross-disciplinary consideration of discourse within the context of the South African AIDS epidemic, including a diversity of sociological and literary texts and a cultural text – the rape trial of Jacob Zuma – such negative stereotyping of women is analysed. Changes in the discourse, relating to historical and political developments, are also traced, showing that a gradual shift from such constructions is taking place. In the final part of the article, an alternative textual representation is analysed of an HIV-positive woman who defines herself instead of allowing herself to be defined, demonstrating the potential texts have to disrupt culturally dominant narratives and alter negative perceptions of women.