Stigma is a situation that arises from the comparisons that people derive from their interactions with others. When a specific person seems different from others, they may develop stigma to fit into the ordinary being. Learning about the sources of stigma helps identify better ways to handle the issue in the lives of people that societies label as abnormal.
Comparisons always result in ranks. "Ritual subordination" always leads to different individuals' ranking according to their importance or roles in society (Dillon, 2014). This situation has always resulted in stigma as some people end up not fitting in some social groups. Social interactions are the ones that make it easy for people to identify others as different because of issues such as the complexion of their skin.
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Character blemishing has been among the effects of interactions between different people. Beliefs also contribute to an increase in the way people view and define others. Different religions help determine how to believe about others, which means that there are different definitions of abnormalities in various communities. Something may seem to be expectable in a particular culture but abnormal in another society. Characters such as dishonesty are not recommendable in many religions, and they may lead to a person being abnormal.
Associations always promote attitudes. "Making appearances" contribute to the way people understand each other (Dillon, 2014). This information leads to an understanding of habits such as alcoholism and the different ways that they may lead to stigma. When a person appears as an alcoholic in the lives of people who define it as an abnormality, they may view such a person as different from them. The need to have the alcoholic fit into the group will force them to avoid it. If the victim, in this case, does not avoid alcohol, they may develop a stigma. "Performing gestures" also contribute to stigma through the definition of behaviors such as homosexuality (Dillon, 2014). The action may also depend on different cultural and religious guidelines.
Physical deformities may also contribute to stigma. When a person experiences different attitudes because the societal definitions identify them as unable to accomplish some roles, they may develop stigma because of the need to fit into their societies. Disabled people may sometimes look weak or unable to achieve some tasks because of their societal attitudes. There is a need for the populations to have a chance to define themselves.
Negotiating about stigma depends on the way different people define it. There is a need for people to always define things beyond the way they view them. For instance, it would be appropriate to give people with disabilities a chance to confirm that they are not as weak as their societies may view them. Communities also need to redefine different characters' blemishes if they should end inequalities that result from differences among people. Solving stigma may also require defining character traits such as the race to identify the inferior as the same to the people the society considered superior.
Sigma is an issue that can change with time because it depends on the beliefs and different ways people appear when interacting with others. With time, appearances keep changing; this is also valid for the lifestyles. Therefore, this information helps to confirm that people may keep redefining characters such as alcoholism and other deformities. Mental conditions keep receiving better definitions with time, and a time will reach where stigma will not be possible among people suffering from such complications.
In general, stigma is a condition where a person who seems different from other struggles to fit into their group. It is appropriate to learn about stigma sources such as deformities, character blemishing, and identities because it makes it easy for responsible individuals to address the issue. Therefore, negotiating about stigma requires better definitions relating to the way people understand things and the people around them.
Reference
Dillon, M. (2014). Introduction to sociological theory theorists, concepts, and their applicability to the twenty-first century (Second ed.). Chichester, West Sussex, UK: John Wiley & Sons.