We argue that HIV responses must be more culturally grounded, nuanced, and aware of how people protect their social standing in contexts where sex, morality, and respectability deeply intersect.

Let’s keep the conversation going.

🔗 doi.org/10.1177/002214…#HIVStigmam#HIVResearchc#HealthEquityty

▶️ This shapes HIV talk, health-seeking, and testing decisions.
In short: stigma influences the “unmarked,” too — not just those living with HIV.

🔗 doi.org/10.1177/002214…#HIVStigmam#HIVResearchc#HealthEquityty

Our findings highlight that HIV stigma doesn’t only impact those with a positive diagnosis — it also affects people who don’t have the stigmatized “mark.”
▶️ People modulate their behavior across different life domains to avoid losing social respect.
🔗 doi.org/10.1177/002214…#HIVStigmam#HIVResearchch

Using grounded theory, we found that many men who have sex with men and transgender women navigate “management of social standing” — protecting their reputation while deciding if, when, and how to talk about HIV or get tested.

🔗 doi.org/10.1177/002214…#HIVStigmam#HIVResearchch

A special thank you @wingmyway.bsky.social PhD supervisor, for this meaningful opportunity to connect, learn, and reflect alongside community.

I left Tumut with deep gratitude — for the Wiradjuri Men’s Group, whose generosity and wisdom reminded me why I chose this path: to bridge knowledge with care, and to center people at the heart of research.

Academic reform is necessary to truly support community-centered, equity-driven research.

Reflexivity must be practiced at every stage of research — to process, challenge, and ground ourselves in humility.

Key Takeaways:
Research should amplify the lived realities of people and communities — not just our own voices.

We need to rethink how we define academic success. What if engagement, collaboration, and impact within communities were valued as much as publications?

3️⃣ Academia and Community: Bridging the Disconnect
I’ve also been reflecting on why meaningful community engagement remains rare in academia. Part of it lies in the system itself — one that values quantity over quality, metrics over meaning.

Too often, mental health systems impose one-size-fits-all models that don’t reflect the realities of First Nations communities. This made me reflect on how we, as researchers, must adapt — to co-create systems that honor different paradigms of wellness, healing, and culture.

2️⃣ Rethinking Mental Health Access
Our conversations often turned to the challenges of accessing equitable and culturally safe mental health care. One metaphor stood out: You can’t ask someone to wear shoes that don’t fit.

I was deeply honored to be welcomed by a Wiradjuri man, and the warmth of that moment grounded me in the shared humanity of our cultures. It reminded me that authentic research begins with showing up — with humility, openness, and care.

1️⃣ Shared Values Across Cultures
Sitting in yarning circles with the Wiradjuri men reminded me of home. Their communal way of storytelling and reflection echoed the same values I grew up with in the Philippines — a sense of “we,” not “I.”

The experience reshaped how I think about research, community, and even my own identity. Here are a few reflections: