Molecular biologist Helen Epstein wrote in The Invisible Cure about the spread of AIDS in Africa and methods to combat the issue.  Uganda found a solution in personal talks about experiences with the disease, a strategy utilizing “social cohesion,” defined as “the tendency of people to talk openly with one another and form trusted relationships” (Epstein, pg.116).  This method caused HIV rates to drop, since it “[P]ersuad[ed] Ugandans to come to terms with the reality of AIDS…and change their behavior” (Epstein, pg. 116).  On the other hand, countries who didn’t explicitly speak about the subject due to close-knit families being separated during colonization, like South Africa, weren’t as successful.

Still recalling Anne Hallward’s TEDx Talk on the benefits of speaking out, I listened to one of her radio talks, “The Unheard Stories of LGBTQ Teens,” in which she spoke to members of this group about being discriminated against and finding support.  I believe this talk is attempting to facilitate Epstein’s “social cohesion” within the group and between gay and straight people.  Hallward and her guest speakers encourage LGBTQ and straight individuals to band together through methods including forming clubs such as a Gay-Straight-Trans Alliance and getting teachers who are part of this minority to “come out,” so that LGBTQ students can openly discuss their challenges at school without feeling threatened.  In addition, support from non-LGBTQ friends and relatives is stressed as important to these teens’ mental health, although listeners are warned by all of the guest speakers to be careful, since not everyone is trustworthy.  Unfortunately, there are inconsistencies; for instance, the fact that some speakers chose anonymity by leaving out their last names goes against the idea of total transparency required for “social cohesion” to work. In dealing with what listeners should do, however, “social cohesion” is completely supported.

Citations

“Emerging,” edited by Barclay Barrios, 3rd ed., Balford/ St. Martin’s 2016, pg. 109-121

Hallward, Anne, “How Telling Our Silenced Stories Can Change the World” www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dMlsnrLN9U