8. Open-Ended Problem Drama

Note for the Facilitator:

Many participants may wish to know what distinguishes an open-ended problem drama from a case study. An open-ended problem drama has many features in common with a case study, e.g., It portrays a real life scenario, highlights conflicting needs and values and identifies potential resources. The distinctive feature of the open-ended problem drama is its special focus on bringing unresolved issues to a close. At the end of the description of a problem-situation, one of the principal characters is left facing a dilemma: How should she/he proceed? What is the wisest course to take? On what considerations should that decision be based? Obviously, to reach that decision-point, a situational analysis will need to be done as in a case study, e.g., to assess the dynamics of the situation and to sort out and reconcile divergent values. But most importantly for a problem-drama, a central character’s need to choose among alternative and conflicting solutions has to be highlighted. If the problem concerns only a few individuals (as in the Story of Maya) it can be kept short; but in the present exercise the story involved the interlocking lives of several members of one family, hence its complexity and length.


Purpose:

To introduce trainers to evocative, open-ended stories that can stimulate discussion among participants in regard to myths, superstitions, stigma, seclusion, taboos, fear, hostility and other powerful manifestations of prejudice which lead to denial of human rights, dignity, and productive opportunities to people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.


Time: 45-60 minutes


Materials:

  • A story of three brothers and one sister who become infected through their own or another’s risky behaviour resulting from ill-advised choices, socio-economic pressures, etc.

  • A set of pictures representing each of the main characters, with names.


Procedure:

  1. Advise the group that you are going to share with them a complex story of three brothers and one sister who, being unaware of the ways in which HIV is transmitted, took risks which resulted in serious consequences for themselves and their loved ones.

  2. Invite the participants to identify the issues that could have been resolved through a more supportive environment in which other actors beyond the family could collaborate to ease tensions, reduce risks and address adequate care issues.

  3. Divide the participants into three subgroups for freer discussion of the dynamics of the story.

  4. Ask for a volunteer to read the story aloud and to use the illustrations in introducing each character.

  5. When the story has been read, allow 15 minutes for the three subgroups to analyze the underlying issues and possible ways of addressing them. To save time and facilitate analysis in depth, each subgroup may choose to focus on only one of the three brothers, however all three groups should consider how the women in the family were affected and in what way the wider community could have helped to ease their pain.


Case Example: Open-Ended Story
Story of Three Brothers and One Sister

In a small town in India three brothers and their young sister had grown up with strong family bonds to each other and to their aging widowed mother. The eldest brother lnder was happily married and had three children, two daughters and one son. Being a truck driver he was away from home a great deal but he loved his family and his ambition was to make enough money so he could send his son through school and college. That way he would not end up as a truck driver like himself. "Life is hard for a truck driver" he would say "long trips, stuck behind a wheel. We only get a break every 400 kms. or so, at a dhaba along the road". Inder did not indulge in drugs as some of his friends did, instead he relaxed by going to a sex worker at a dhaba or by having sex with one of the male attendants who service the trucks.

The second brother, Amar, was married to Anita, a pretty young woman. They had no children. He worked as an office peon, a job he found very boring. After work he like to stop at a tavern on his way home and it soon became a habit. Anita could often smell alcohol on his breath but dared not question him. Very soon he was drinking away most of his salary. "When he is drunk he beats me up for the least provocation." Anita said, "Often he blames me because we have no children and says I brought him bad luck." In spite of his abuse Anita tried to be a dutiful wife. She never even insisted on his using a condom during sex, for fear of his bad temper. Occasionally when he was in a drunken asleep she would sneak out to earn a few rupees doing odd jobs in the neighborhood. Neighbors liked her and tried to help. The third brother Sunil was very fortunate in having had technical training after high school. He had a good job as a foreman at a small manufacturing company and was doing well. Sunil lived with his mother, Radha and his sister, Rani, He knew his mother wanted to get him married but he was in no hurry, preferring to wait until he got a promotion before "settling down" in life. Besides, his sister Rani was only 14 and needed his guidance.

Tragedy struck all three brothers in different ways. Very soon lnder became seriously ill, with a fever and diarrhea which he could not explain. Lila urged him to see a doctor but he was reluctant to take time off from his work. "If I don't make money how will I send our son to college?" he would say. Finally as his health got worse he went to a doctor. When he tested HIV-positive the doctor told him not to come to see him anymore. "If people find out I am treating HIV positive people they will stop coming to see me," he said "if I lose my patients how will I pay my bills?"

As news of illness spread around, people began to speculate "what kind of disease he had contracted?" Soon even those people who used to come to him for advice avoided him. Neighbors no longer chatted with his wife as before. Worse still his children's classmates taunted them at school. So he told his wife to go to her parent's home taking the children with her, to which she obediently agreed "But who will look after you" she asked in tears, knowing fully well that nobody would.

The situation of the second brother Amar also deteriorated fast. Because he came to the job drunk one day he got fired. To make ends meet, his wife Anita took on menial work in the neighborhood for minimal wage. Even that money he would demand from her for his drinking habit or beat her up badly if she refused. One day a woman whose house she cleaned said to her very confidentially, "Why do you put up with such a life? You are still young and pretty. You can earn a good income in sex work and you can do it from my own house. Nobody will know. Come over late tonight when your husband is asleep." Anita was scared. The idea of having sex with strange men repulsed her, yet she needed the money. How else would she and her husband survive? Financially, it was ok for a while, but didn't last.

She found she could not continue because her husband Amar, had also become seriously ill just like Inder, and she herself had developed genital ulcers. She was in great physical pain and worried but to whom could she turn? Not to her mother who would be deeply grieved. Certainly not to her mother-in-law who already blamed her for her husband's alcoholism. In desperation, she thought of her young sister-in-law, Rani. So she pleaded with Sunil to have Rani stay with her. Rani could also help take care of Inder who lived close by and was very, very, sick by now.

Sunil of course was most troubled over the misfortunes that had struck both his brothers. He decided to share his concern confidentially with his closest friend, Ram, who knew many doctors and hospitals. Sunil did not tell him everything, only about the ill-health of his oldest brother, the truck driver. Without hesitation, Ram said: "Oh ho, he's a truck driver, eh, then he's had it. Your brother's illness must be AIDS. Be careful. Stay away from him. If not, you yourself will get infected and you will infect us all." He was so stern that Sunil was more worried than ever.

Very soon, on the rumors about Inder’s mysterious illness seemed to have spread even to Sunil’s office. How, he will never know. Somehow, even his boss's attitude towards him seemed strained, almost as if he didn't trust him. Then within a month the boss actually fired him. For what reason? What had he done? His work had been so good over the last year that he had been given a substantial raise. Why then this change? But he could get no explanation from his boss who would not even see him.

Sunil was angry but determined not to be defeated. He thought his boss was very short- sighted. Without a good foreman the productivity of the company would go down. Then many families would be in trouble. But how could he get his boss to listen? Meanwhile Sunil had to find a solution for his own family crisis. The situation was so complex. But there must be a way out. He would begin by having Rani drop out of school so she could look after Anita and Inder. He knew Rani would protest. She would be scared about the illness, scared that she might contract it. But never mind. He would see to it that she agreed.