A Timeline of Women Living With HIV: A Small but Growing Chorus in the 1980s

Since the beginning of time, women have had to fight for recognition. Women had to fight to vote. Women had to fight to work. Women even had to fight to wear the clothes they liked.

Thirty-one years ago women were fighting off unusual symptoms. Thirty-one years ago women were fighting to be diagnosed. Thirty-one years ago women were fighting to stay alive.

However, the fight is not over and is perhaps just beginning. Women, both affected and infected, must gather their strength and remember those who have gone before them. We must never go back to 1981 . We must run our lives as if we are the female CEO of our own company. We must meet with our "Board of Directors" for input. We must set a strategic plan for "Women AIDS, Inc." We must be the most important person in our life!

We invite you to read this humble history of women and HIV and decide what you can do to add to the history of HIV and women.