‘Social stigma is the disapproval of, or discrimination against, a person based on apprehensible social
characteristics the purpose of which is to distinguish them from other members
of a society. Social stigmas are commonly related to culture, gender, race, intelligence, sexual preference and health.’
As Plato wrote in The Laws, a
dialogue on the ethics of government, ‘if anyone is caught committing
sacrilege, if he be a slave or a stranger, let his offence be written on his
face and his hands’.
The
word ‘Stigma’ finds its origins in a Greek word stig-, meaning to
prick or to puncture, that means, a type
of marking or a tattoo. Something that was cut or burned into the skin of
criminals, slaves, or traitors in order to visibly identify them as morally
polluted persons, in medieval times and even before. These individuals were to
be avoided particularly in public places. Stigma may also be described as a label to form a stereotype.
How in Nazi Germany, The Jews were supposed to
wear a cloth around their arm with a Star of David, to demarcate them. Even as
we read The Merchant of Venice, we see how The Jews were confined to ghettos
and made to wear the Judenhats at all times. How in India the Shudras and Harijans
were cursed with untouchability and couldn’t even draw water from a common well.
In many states this despicable practice still persists. Mass exodus of kashmiri
pundits, Mob lynching of muslims, raping the missionaries, atrocities on the
Dalits, denial
of accommodations in many places, physical assaults, insults, side glances or
sneers and comments towards are brothers from North East India, are some of the
things that we’ve made peace with. Cornering the minorities on the basis of
their race, religion, ethnicity in Latin America, Africa, Middle East,
Bangladesh and world over, is something that doesn’t hit heavy on our
conscience because it isn’t us.
Some of us rebel, retaliate and speak up. Some
of us aren’t vocal yet resist quietly. All I’d like to say is, if you’re quiet,
neutral about any wrong that you see happening in front of you, you are
choosing the side of the oppressor.
We
were all brought up in a racist, homophobic, unequal society, but some of us
grew up and thought for themselves and unlearned it. There is no excuse for you
to continue being that way in 2020. You were raised that way? Quit blaming your
parents and quit being a prick about it. Take responsibility for your own
actions and unlearn. It literally isn’t rocket science. You know why it is
important to talk about such things, as much as others might think it is
controversial? Because, if you don’t you’re simply another hypocrite who just
blabbers on the gram, says stuff like, “we’re all in this together”; from a goddamned yacht and goes back to their cozy, coddled life.
It is
important to understand that a stigma may affect the behavior of those who are stigmatized. Those who are stereotyped often start to act in ways; that they who stigmatize, expect
of them. It not only changes their behavior, but it also shapes their emotions and beliefs. Members of stigmatized social groups often face prejudice. These
stigmas put a person's social
identity in threatening situations.
Like people of a particular community or a gender not being given employment or
equal opportunities, health care.
Erving Goffman defined stigma as 'the process by which the
reaction of others, spoils normal identity'. The
three forms of social stigma according to Goffman are:
(1) stigma associated with
mental illness;
(2) stigma associated
with physical deformation; and
(3) stigma attached
to identification with a particular race, ethnicity, religion, ideology, etc.
Let’s
see some of the stigmas that still prevail in our so called ‘educated, modern’
society:
- Stigma around people suffering with HIV- AIDS
- Stigma
clouding conversations about Mental Illnesses such as OCD, PTSD, PMS,
Schizophrenia, Anxiety, Depression, Eating Disorders.
- Homosexuality
& your sexual preference
- The
Physically disabled
- One’s
Skin tone
- One’s
Nationality/Ethnicity
- Your
Religious beliefs or lack of them
- Your
Intelligence & people suffering from dyslexia/ADHD /dyscalculia/autism or
other such conditions
- Your
Profession & lack of dignity of labor
- Your
Gender & expectations thereof, your masculinity or femininity
- Victims of rape/molestation or acid attacks
- Menstruating women
- Masturbation
- Substance abuse
The list is extensive.
For
those of you who may have been bullied into questioning yourself and your self
worth because of any kind of stigma looming over you, I hope the following
could help in any way:
·
Get treatment,
medicines, therapy: whatever helps
·
Resist urges for
self-doubt and shame, you ARE so much more than the stigma they’re using to
define you
·
Don’t isolate
yourself, it is never a good idea
·
Join a support
group to share and unburden
·
Ask your
community for help, a mentor, your teacher, a friend, your family
·
Speak out against
stigma, educate others.
I’d
like to end by just saying that, each one of us is fighting an unknown battle,
the least we can do is be kind to the other. It won’t kill you.
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The images are not mine, but taken from a google search.
A very important topic to be discussed and understood..thanks to your articles that these concerns are being shared because we all know it but we don't discuss it... beautifully written again.. :)
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