Feminist Organizing in HIV Nursing Professional Societies: A Case Study From the Philippines.

Abstract

Abstract: Nursing professional societies (NPSs) hold the potential to shape not only clinical standards and professional development but also broader movements for equity in health. This article argues that feminist organizing offers a practical and ethical framework for NPSs to enhance their contributions to justice-driven HIV care. Drawing from feminist principles-including human dignity, intersectionality, collective leadership, and care-the article explores how these ideals can reorient the structures and strategies of nursing organizations. Using the Philippine Society of Sexual and Reproductive Health Nurses Inc. as a case exemplar, we show how a feminist approach to governance, programming, and coalition-building strengthens a society's ability to confront stigma, advance sexual and reproductive rights, and support people living with and affected by HIV. The article concludes by identifying organizational challenges and opportunities for deepening feminist alignment, offering insights relevant to nurses leading transformative work within and beyond the HIV response.