‘HIV made me fabulous’: a qualitative analysis of embodied storytelling in film to address stigma, further understandings of U=U and advance gender equity

Abstract

Background Even with the Undetectable equals Untransmittable campaign (U=U) campaign, women living with HIV continue to experience intersecting forms of stigma. We explored how the somatic experiences of viewing a film about U=U and women could help individuals gain deeper understandings of HIV and alter learned prejudices. Methods HIV Made Me Fabulous is a film that utilises embodied storytelling to tell the story of a trans woman living through social and historical traumas of HIV. Four online film screenings and focus group discussions took place between June 2020 and June 2021, with participants attending from Canada, Australia, South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe and India. Two sessions were held with women living with HIV (n = 16) and two with HIV-negative individuals (n = 12). Transcripts were analysed via thematic analysis using Lafrenière and Cox’s framework to assess its impact. Results Participants experienced strong, diverse emotional responses and sometimes physical effects from viewing the film. These somatic experiences furthered engagement with key messages in the film, including U=U, intersectional identities, and impacts of patriarchal systems. Women living with HIV commented on unique gendered risks experienced during disclosure, and the pressures of reaching an undetectable viral load. Women also commented how the film resulted in deeper reflection of their deservingness of pleasure. Regardless of HIV status, participants expressed motivation towards influencing change that included addressing biases and sharing U=U with others. Conclusions Embodied storytelling in film is an effective method to counter both intra- and inter-personal HIV-related stigma by provoking responses that enhance compassion for oneself and others.