What Matters Most? The Power of Kafka’s Metamorphosis to Advance Understandings of HIV Stigma and Inform Empathy in Medical Health Education

Abstract

HIV stigma, a social-medical problem, continues to confound researchers and health professionals, while undermining outcomes. Empathy may reduce stigma; its absence may predict stigma. This research investigates: How does Kafka’s Metamorphosis advance understandings of HIV stigma in medical health education? Metamorphosis amplifies the sociological-relational mechanisms fostering HIV stigma. It offers a multi-disciplinary, responsive space for ethical, humanistic and clinical inquiry to meet: enabling students to consider how social structures shape health inequities, moral, social experience, and their professional identity within. Metamorphosis may ultimately promote medical health humanities’ social mission—allowing literature to unfold such revelations towards greater equity in health.