8 Areas of Ignorance Regarding Black Women and AIDS
Ruth Houston
October 05, 2006
In the recent ABC Primetime special, “Out of Control: AIDS in Black America”, Tom Moran cited ignorance as one of five reasons why AIDS has reached epidemic proportions in the Black community.
According to infidelity expert Ruth Houston, when it comes to Black women and AIDS, that ignorance can take many forms. Houston says, “The ignorance falls into two major categories - ignorance about the facts regarding Black women and HIV/AIDS, and ignorance of the circumstances in their lives that put them at risk for HIV infection. Within those two categories, are 8 specific areas of ignorance about Black women and AIDS.”
8 Areas of Ignorance
1. Ignorance that HIV/AIDS is now the leading cause of death for Black women 25-44 years of age and has been for the past 11 years.
2. Ignorance that almost 70% of all newly diagnosed HIV-positive women in the United States are Black women.
3. Ignorance that the most common method of HIV/AIDS infection for Black women is heterosexual transmission-- largely due to Black men on the down low.
4. Ignorance of your partner’s sexual history or his true sexual orientation.
5. Ignorance that you are not in the monogamous relationship you think you’re in because your partner has one or more other partners.
6. Ignorance that you are a victim of same sex infidelity -- that your husband or boyfriend is sexually involved with another man.
7. Ignorance about your own and your partner’s HIV status – that he may be HIV positive and may have already infected you, his unsuspecting mate.
8. Ignorance about how to tell if your husband or boyfriend is on the down low.
Ignorance Fueled by 2 Common Myths
Unfortunately, this ignorance invites infection, regardless of what form it takes.” says Houston.
One of the most prevalent forms of ignorance – the ignorance about how to tell if a man is on the down low – is fueled by two common myths.”
Myth #1 - There are no signs – no way to tell if a man is on the down low.
Myth #2 - You can tell by looking at a man if he’s on the down low.
Down Low Dozen Tip Sheet Dispels the Myths
Last year, in an effort to dispel these myths and eliminate much of the ignorance associates with how to tell if a man is on the down low, infidelity expert Ruth Houston compiled a 2-part tip sheet for Black women called the Down Low Dozen, which gives specific guidelines on what to look for if they suspect their partner of being on the down low.
Says Houston, “The Down Low Dozen tip sheet is a protective measure. In order to protect ourselves against heterosexually contracted HIV/AIDS, It’s vitally important that we, as Black women, know how to tell if a man is on the down low. It could be a matter of life and death.”
Part 1 of Houston’s Down Low Dozen tip sheet describes a discreet 3-step process for finding out if a man is on the down low. Part 2 includes practical advice on what to do if he is, how to confront your partner about his down low status, precautions to take, and how to find help. For a FREE copy of the Down Low Dozen tip sheet, send an e-mail to DownLowDozen@gmail.com with “DL Dozen-am” in the subject line.
According to infidelity expert Ruth Houston, when it comes to Black women and AIDS, that ignorance can take many forms. Houston says, “The ignorance falls into two major categories - ignorance about the facts regarding Black women and HIV/AIDS, and ignorance of the circumstances in their lives that put them at risk for HIV infection. Within those two categories, are 8 specific areas of ignorance about Black women and AIDS.”
8 Areas of Ignorance
1. Ignorance that HIV/AIDS is now the leading cause of death for Black women 25-44 years of age and has been for the past 11 years.
2. Ignorance that almost 70% of all newly diagnosed HIV-positive women in the United States are Black women.
3. Ignorance that the most common method of HIV/AIDS infection for Black women is heterosexual transmission-- largely due to Black men on the down low.
4. Ignorance of your partner’s sexual history or his true sexual orientation.
5. Ignorance that you are not in the monogamous relationship you think you’re in because your partner has one or more other partners.
6. Ignorance that you are a victim of same sex infidelity -- that your husband or boyfriend is sexually involved with another man.
7. Ignorance about your own and your partner’s HIV status – that he may be HIV positive and may have already infected you, his unsuspecting mate.
8. Ignorance about how to tell if your husband or boyfriend is on the down low.
Ignorance Fueled by 2 Common Myths
Unfortunately, this ignorance invites infection, regardless of what form it takes.” says Houston.
One of the most prevalent forms of ignorance – the ignorance about how to tell if a man is on the down low – is fueled by two common myths.”
Myth #1 - There are no signs – no way to tell if a man is on the down low.
Myth #2 - You can tell by looking at a man if he’s on the down low.
Down Low Dozen Tip Sheet Dispels the Myths
Last year, in an effort to dispel these myths and eliminate much of the ignorance associates with how to tell if a man is on the down low, infidelity expert Ruth Houston compiled a 2-part tip sheet for Black women called the Down Low Dozen, which gives specific guidelines on what to look for if they suspect their partner of being on the down low.
Says Houston, “The Down Low Dozen tip sheet is a protective measure. In order to protect ourselves against heterosexually contracted HIV/AIDS, It’s vitally important that we, as Black women, know how to tell if a man is on the down low. It could be a matter of life and death.”
Part 1 of Houston’s Down Low Dozen tip sheet describes a discreet 3-step process for finding out if a man is on the down low. Part 2 includes practical advice on what to do if he is, how to confront your partner about his down low status, precautions to take, and how to find help. For a FREE copy of the Down Low Dozen tip sheet, send an e-mail to DownLowDozen@gmail.com with “DL Dozen-am” in the subject line.
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