Stigmatization
A woman walks into an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. A man cashes his disability check. Do you look at them with judgment, with sympathy, or with something in between? How you answer may depend on your perspective toward social welfare.
A look of judgment represents the stigma attached to many social services. Some recipients are more stigmatized than others—for instance, a senior receiving retirement benefits may not be perceived with contempt in the same way that a homeless person at a soup kitchen might be.
For this Discussion, you investigate what stigmatization entails and how you might address it with a certain population.
a response to the following:
Define stigmatization as it relates to receiving social services.
Identify and describe a population that may feel stigmatized in accepting a social service.
Describe a strategy to use with a client to address stigmatization.
Reference
Verhaeghe, M., Bracke, P., & Bruynooghe, K. (2008). Stigmatization and self-esteem of persons in recovery from mental illness: The role of peer support Links to an external site.. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 54(3), 206–218.
Sample Answer
Definition of stigmatization as it relates to receiving social services
Stigma is a negative social label that is attached to a person or group of people. It can be based on a variety of factors, including race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and mental illness. Stigma can lead to discrimination, prejudice, and social isolation.
In the context of social services, stigma can refer to the negative attitudes and stereotypes that are often associated with people who receive social assistance. For example, people who receive food stamps or unemployment benefits may be seen as lazy or undeserving. People who receive disability benefits may be seen as weak or incompetent.
Population that may feel stigmatized in accepting a social service
Any population that receives social services is at risk of experiencing stigma. However, some populations are more stigmatized than others. For example, people who are homeless, people with mental illness, and people who are addicted to drugs or alcohol are often stigmatized.