[01] Khalida Gull, Department of Sociology, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India. [02] Salima Jan, Educational Multimedia Research Centre, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India.

Although gallons of ink has been drawn to describe the general inequitable status of women in Kashmir society, there appears to be limited research on the social life of HIV/AIDS affected people in Kashmir and especially how Kashmiri women infected with HIV/AIDS are coping with their lives in such a society which is strongly guided by socio-religious norms. Since the HIV prevalence is considerable low in Kashmir as compared to other states of India and the factors responsible for such low prevalence to HIV/AIDS are not known, but definitely this is being attributed to strong socio-religious factors prevalent in Kashmir society. The primary goal of this study is to find out the social stigma and discrimination experienced by these women in contemporary Kashmir society both at the individual as well as societal level.

HIV/AIDS, Women, Health, Kashmir Valley

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