The Social Construction of AIDS Issues - Paperback

by Suiming Pan (Author), Hulin Zhao (Translator)

This book explores AIDS from a relatively macro perspective rather than concrete operational methods and focuses on the social construction of AIDS issues instead of its transmission level in the context of China. First, it begins with the theoretical analysis and the social significance of AIDS, which is different from the simple conflict between different schools of thought. Second, it analyses the contest of various social powers in the process of AIDS construction and conclusion, rather than making different explanations of policies. Last but not least, it elaborates on the central proposition, i.e., the "AIDS issue" is a symbol of China's social restructuring process. Only in an effort to advance such a process can we be more likely to find the best problem-solving mode, rather than clamouring repeatedly or giving countermeasures alone.

Back Jacket

This book explores AIDS from a relatively macro perspective rather than concrete operational methods and focuses on the social construction of AIDS issues instead of its transmission level in the context of China. First, it begins with the theoretical analysis and the social significance of AIDS, which is different from the simple conflict between different schools of thought. Second, it analyses the contest of various social powers in the process of AIDS construction and conclusion, rather than making different explanations of policies. Last but not least, it elaborates on the central proposition, i.e., the "AIDS issue" is a symbol of China's social restructuring process. Only in an effort to advance such a process can we be more likely to find the best problem-solving mode, rather than clamouring repeatedly or giving countermeasures alone.

Author Biography

Pan Suiming is professor emeritus and the honorary director of the Institute for Research on Sexuality and Gender at Renmin University of China and Associate Secretary of the Chinese Association of Sociology. He is well-known for the research he carried out on China's 23 red-light districts from 1998 to 2010 when he interviewed more than 1,000 sex workers as well as hundreds of pimps in recent years. Prof. Pan set up China's first sex-related curriculum in a Chinese university in the 1970s. Owing to decades of contribution to and influence on sexology, Prof. Pan is ranked as "the first person of Chinese Sexology" and "the godfather of sexology" by Chinese media. Pan has been a loyal supporter of the protection of LGBT rights and same-sex marriage in China for decades. His Sina and Tencent blogs have more than 2 millions' hits and thousands of comments.