Herpes and Stigma: Navigating Feelings and Education
When educating about herpes, a common response I receive is, “but I never wanted herpes. I shouldn’t want this.”
Similar to other illnesses, no one really wants to get or be sick. But for common infections, there is an acceptance that it’s a part of being human. We can think similarly when it comes to STIs.
There is space for both of these thoughts to exist:
💌 “I didn’t want to get herpes.”
💌 “I know that getting herpes is a potential outcome of sex. Having herpes doesn’t make me a bad person.”
It’s not about “wanting” herpes or “advocating for people to get herpes.” It’s educating in such a way that there is room for these thoughts and feelings with the understanding that herpes is a human part of our sexual encounters. It doesn’t mean we’re “bad” or “tainted” (even though the stigma can make us feel that way).
As we continue work to reduce the stigma, I believe more folks will make space for this co-existence.