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Surviving & Thriving: AIDS, Politics, and Culture

America Responds to AIDS

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Have you talked with your wife about AIDS, 1980s

Fear of AIDS ran rampant through the 1980s, which prevented many people from getting accurate, reliable information on transmission, prevention, and testing. Heterosexuals often assumed that they were exempt or not at risk.

  • Publisher(s):
    Centers for Disease Control
  • Type:
    Poster
Blue tinted photograph of a white man holding a hard hat, looking at the viewer.

The America Responds to AIDS campaign presented a diverse group of people addressing a litany of questions about AIDS. The questions used an unidentified interviewer to present these fictional conversations, all with men in this case, as happening all over America. The posters did not include any actual information on prevention or testing, the campaign encouraged a dialogue about AIDS among peers that diffused some of the shame and anxiety associated with the disease. In this way, the campaign combated AIDS by first addressing the fear.

Choose from the group
  • Blue tinted photograph of a white teenage boy looking at the viewer
  • Black and white photograph of a white man resting his hand underneath his chin, looking at the viewer. Only his head is evident.
  • Blue tinted photograph of a white man holding a hard hat, looking at the viewer.
  • Black and white photograph of White man in sweater looking at viewer to the left of text.
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    Have You Talked With Your Wife About AIDS?

    Bob: Don’t you people have anything else to talk about?

    So, you’ve heard a lot about AIDS lately?

    Bob: More than enough. And my wife has too. So don’t bother her.

    Have you talked with her about it?

    Bob: No.

    Do you think she worries about AIDS?

    Bob: I don’t know.

    What if she does?

    Bob: She wouldn’t be the only one.

    Do you worry about it?

    Bob: Doesn’t everybody?

    So, here you are worrying alone when your wife is probably thinking the same thing.

    Bob: I never thought about that.

    AMERICA RESPONDS TO AIDS
    1-800-342-AIDS
    This is a message from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control

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