In Where ethics and politics meet: The violence of humanitarianism in France, Miriam Ticktin explores the ramifications of humanitarianism through a particular piece of French legislature, the “illness clause”. Ticktin presents an analysis of the inevitable ties between ethics and politics, proposing that a “biosocial” space is constructed upon a provision that allows those with chronic, life-threatening illness to legally continue to reside in France and receive treatment. Within this biosocial space, a redefinition of well-being has occurred. Those who suffer from an illness, that is potentially life-threatening and requires continual treatment, are best-suited under this clause. They become those of desired status, as they will be granted true human rights. The implications of what was supposed to be a step towards a more humanitarian system of deciding who reserves the right to stay in France, are truly devastating. Moreover, one particular anecdote of the article opened my eyes to all sides of the limitations that can stem from such a law. Ticktin mentions the phenomenon in which certain women refuse the humanitarian aid of French medics and the chance to remain in France due to the stigma of HIV/AIDS that they carry from their home countries. Makoae et al.’s 2008 publication, Coping with HIV/AIDS Stigma in Five African Countries (link found here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2346777/), addresses the internalization of the HIV stigma in African populations. Makoae and colleagues state, “Within the African context, in which this study was conducted, coping appears to be self-taught and only modestly helpful in managing perceived stigma.” These women, as paralleled by Miriam Ticktin, keep their illness to themselves for fear of more shaming in this foreign nation. The desire to uphold dignity in a new social context prevents these women from both the ability to seek refuge from the same discrimination they left behind, as well as obtaining needed medical treatment that could save their lives.