SOL: Stanzas of Life

Stigma:

• A type of marking that was branded into the skin of criminals, slaves, or traitors to visibly identify them as blemished (Greek origin).
• Medical field: a visible sign of a disease (mark on one’s body).
• Christian tradition: a mark corresponding to those left on Jesus’ body by the Crucifixion said to have been impressed by divine favor on the bodies of St. Francis of Assisi and others.

Stigmas are labels and are affixed.

Stigmas are the belittlement of another based on one’s perceived characteristics (cultural, social, physical appearance), which distinguishes one from the rest of society.

Under the umbrella of stigmas falls a subtype: social stigmas. Social stigmas are formed by generalized differences in culture, gender, sexual orientation, race, and mental illness to devalorize others. The underlying attributes that one society selects differ according to time and place.

Mental health in United States has widespread been stigmatized. Individuals live in fear, reject, avoid, and discriminate against people with mental illness. Further, “stigmatizing beliefs about the competency of individuals with mental illness compromise individuals’ financial autonomy, restrict opportunities, and may lead to coercive treatment and reduced independence” (Corrigan and Shapiro 2010; Pescosolido et al. 2007a).

Stereotypes, Prejudices, and Discrimination toward a specific population generate stigmas.

Stereotypes are claims or beliefs that are generalized to a population.

Prejudices are negative affects targeted to a population.

Discrimination are changes in behavior based on our cognitive (stereotypes) and emotional (prejudices) predispositions.

These three terms are presented throughout media, including social media applications, which plays an influential role in generating new stigmas. In order to effectively combat the crisis, journalists should have guidelines to decrease the amount of stigma that is presented.

Social stigmas are internalized and result in the rejection, avoidance, and denial of one’s self. As a society, we should strive to eradicate stigmas and cognitively reappraise our initial biases and negative attitudes toward specific groups of individuals. Public education and legislation on discrimination are useful interventions to combat this problem.

During times of uncertainty, it is imperative that we collectively join forces to respect others and take care of our family and neighbors. Societal social stigmas may be reduced by taking action to carefully craft our thoughts and emotional responses toward one another in a respectful manner.

Stigma- social and self:  https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat/individuals-and-society/perception-prejudice-and-bias/v/stigma-social-and-self