Social stigma facts for kids
Social stigma is when people disapprove of or treat someone unfairly because of certain things about them. These things might make them seem different from others in society. Social stigmas often relate to a person's culture, gender, race, how much money they have, their age, sexual orientation, body image, physical disability, how smart they are, or their health.
What is Social Stigma?
The word "stigma" comes from ancient Greece. Back then, it meant a mark or tattoo cut or burned onto the skin of people who had broken rules, were enslaved, or were seen as traitors. This mark showed everyone that these people were considered bad or unwanted. People were expected to avoid them, especially in public places.
Social stigmas can appear in many ways. The most common ones are linked to culture, gender, race, religion, and illness. People who face stigma often feel different and not valued by others.
How Stigma Creates Stereotypes
Stigma can also be like a label that connects a person to a group of unwanted ideas. These ideas often form a stereotype. When society puts people into certain groups, the person who is labeled can lose their standing and face discrimination. Once a stereotype is widely believed, society starts to expect certain things from those groups.
What society sees as "out of place" can change over time and from one place to another. Something that is not accepted in one society might be totally normal in another.
How Stigma Affects People
Stigma can really change how people who are stigmatized act. Sometimes, people who are stereotyped might start to behave in ways that others expect of them. It doesn't just change their actions; it also shapes their emotions and beliefs.
People who belong to groups that face stigma often deal with unfair treatment. This can lead to feelings of sadness or low self-esteem. Because of this, experts study how these labels affect a person's social identity.
Children become aware of stereotypes at a young age. Studies show that by age 10, most children know about common stereotypes for different groups. Children who are part of a stigmatized group often learn about these stereotypes even earlier.
See Also
- Discrimination
- Dehumanization
- In Spanish: Estigma social para niños
