PAUL

Introduction: 

Introduction

Understanding Stigma: 

Understanding Stigma Greeks: Bodily signs to expose something unusual or bad about the moral status of the identifier Signs : Cut into the body and advertised that the bearer was a slave, criminal or traitor Blemished person, polluted and to be avoided in public places

Preliminary Conceptions: 

Preliminary Conceptions Society has means of categorizing persons and attributes felt ordinary and natural for members of these categories When a stranger comes into our presence, then first appearances enable us to anticipate his category and attributes We make assumptions as to what the individual before us ought to be Virtual Social Identity

Preliminary Conceptions: 

Preliminary Conceptions The category and attributes he could in fact be proved to possess is the real identity While the stranger is present before us, evidence arises of his possessing an attribute that makes him different from others in that category, a person who is thoroughly bad or dangerous discrepancy between Actual Social Identity Virtual Social Identity Actual Social Identity

Preliminary Conceptions: 

Preliminary Conceptions The person is reduced in our minds from a whole and a usual person to a tainted and a discounted one. Attribute is a stigma, especially when the discrediting effect is very extensive. failing / handicap / shortcoming

Stigma and Perception: 

Stigma and Perception Normal Tainted / Discounted Discrediting Character : Stigma

Examples: 

Examples Physical Disability Homosexuality Stigma Mental disorder Imprisonment Race / Nation / Caste Suicidal Attempts

How our perception changes ?: 

How our perception changes ? Person with a stigma is not quite human. We exercise discrimination and reduce his life chances Stigma Theory: to explain his inferiority and account for the danger he represents. Victimisation Rationalize animosity based on other differences Stigma Terms Cripple, bastard, moron. Impute a wide range of imperfections Stigma

Understanding Stigma: 

Understanding Stigma “ The perceived failure to see may be generalized into gestalt of disability, so that the individual shouts at the blind as if they were deaf or attempts to lift them as if the crippled.” “ When I go to a repair shop, the shopkeeper refuses to acknowledge my presence. I explain the problem but the repairman answers only to my companion. Even if he does talk to me, he talks loudly as if I were deaf and couldn’t understand a thing ” `

Understanding Stigma: 

Understanding Stigma “ By definition a stigmatized individual is not considered human. There is hesitancy even about touching or steering a blind.” “People fail to see a blind person as a person. We want people to deal normally with us.”

Covering: 

Covering “ Stigmatized make a great effort to keep the stigma from looming large. ” Objective is to withdraw attention from the stigma and to sustain spontaneous involvement in the official content of the interaction. Wearing dark glasses Re-learning motor skills Near Blind – hesitation to read Looking directly at the speaker

Role of the Family: 

Role of the Family The family forms a protective capsule for its young. Within the capsule a stigmatized child can be carefully sustained by means of information control. Self-belittling definitions of him are prevented from entering the capsule. Upper Classes - Overprotective - Dependent Schools - stigma learning - calling names (blind, ‘andha’)

Understanding Rejection: 

Understanding Rejection “ Stigma: An attribute that is deeply discrediting, making a the person a tainted and a discounted one.” Immediate family : shares the stigma Exclusion from social gathering Consider harmful to social image

Understanding Exclusion: 

Understanding Exclusion Impute a wide range of imperfections We exercise discrimination and reduce his life chances Person with a stigma is not quite human “ There are students at NAB whose parents don’t take them even during vacations. Imagine the mental state of the individual. The may react with aggression or violence”

Discrimination: 

Discrimination Schools – Entry into normal schools Place of work – Not expected to do any work - Considered a liability - Fired without an excuse “ The blind has to do twice the work. First he has to convince the employer that a blind can do the job and then try securing it.” Avinash, AIIMS , PNB

Education and Employment: 

Education and Employment “ Many parents, specially in the lower strata believe that the visually challenged are incapable of learning. ” “ Lack of education leaves them vulnerable to exploitation” “People are forced into certain occupations like teaching music, caning chairs, making mops or brooms ” illustrations

Acceptance: 

Acceptance People fail to accord him the respect and regard which the uncontaminated aspects of his social identity deserves. Person stands discredited facing an unaccepting society.

How does the individual behave?: 

How does the individual behave? He echoes this denial by finding that some of his own attributes warrant it. Whatever others profess, they do not really ‘accept’ him and are not ready to make contact with him on ‘equal’ grounds. Shame, self-hate, self-derogation Attempt to correct or hide

Social Interactions: 

Social Interactions Discredited and the Discreditable Does the stigmatized individual assume that his differentness is known or not ? Uncertainty of Status Can never be sure what would be the attitude of a new acquaintance will be, whether rejective or accepting. Crippled, Negro, immigrant, socially mobile person, woman in a predominantly masculine occupation

Social Interactions: 

Social Interactions Anticipation of such contacts can lead normals to arrange life so as to avoid each other. In the stigmatised arises a sense of not knowing what the others present are really thinking about him. Confusion in the mind of the normal - direct sympathy - not to make impossible demands

Group Formation: 

Group Formation People with a particular stigma – come together into small social groups Individual identity => Group Identity Examples - Clubs of ex-mental patients, - Self help groups for the obese, divorced and the aged - Residential communities – ethnic, racial, caste Speakers can push their case or lobby Accepting Support Group

The Own and the Wise: 

The Own and the Wise People whose special position has made them privy to the secret life of the stigmatized individual and sympathetic with it and extend acceptance With a wise person the stigmatized feel no shame nor exert self control, knowing that in spite of his failing he will be seen as an ordinary other The self must not only be offered, it must be accepted

Becoming wise…: 

Becoming wise… A heart changing personal experience Working in an establishment which caters to the wants of the members of a stigmatized group Related through the social structure to the stigmatized individual Obliged to share some of the discredit of the stigmatized person to whom they are related

Analysis of Stigmatized Groups: 

Analysis of Stigmatized Groups