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Although enacted and internalized stigma is a continuing problem for people living with HIV (PLWH) in Southeast Asia, there is little understanding of how PLWH cope with discrimination, exclusion, and other negative outcomes caused by HIV-related stigmatization. This article aims to bridge this gap by analyzing the lived experiences of HIV-related stigmatization and coping strategies among 30 people with HIV in Myanmar, a country heavily influenced by religion, especially Buddhism. Among the 30 study participants, 20 were female and 10 were male, with ages ranging from 18 to 50 years. Through the lens of Bourdieu's concepts of habitus, field, and capital, this article first elucidates the various forms of stigmatization in family, work, social, and other settings as symbolic violence on people with HIV. The present article shows that spirituality serves as a perceptual and action framework for people with HIV to generate reflexivity toward their HIV infection and related stigmatization and to further engage in agentic responses. More importantly, this article demonstrates how people with HIV draw on spirituality to support peers in reclaiming control over their lives and how they are perceived by society. The findings indicate that the local context, especially cultural and religious resources, should be considered when developing interventions to mitigate HIV-related stigmatization in Southeast Asia.

Debt accumulation has been linked to materialism, impulsivity, shortsightedness, self-control, and lifestyle preferences. However, applying stigma theory allows novel insights into debt accumulation for middle-class individuals who access a variety of credit-related products. The authors define anticipated stigmatization of debt as the negative judgment and discrimination an individual expects to experience because of their consumer indebtedness. Results from a series of studies demonstrate that although financial stress motivates behaviors designed to reduce debt, debtors who anticipate stigmatization perform a variety of concealment behaviors (secrecy, social spending, and help avoidance) that hinder debt reduction and have negative effects on well-being. To understand how to help these individuals, the authors collaborated with a financial education company, designing a field experiment to examine the efficacy of a behavior change course. Individuals who anticipated stigmatization and formed new social connections in a community-based condition reduced their consumer debt. Although the emotional effect of community-based support has been examined in other stigma contexts, this study is the first to investigate the effect on well-being in a debt context and link social benefits to actual behavior change in terms of debt reduction behaviors and debt repayment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental Health Professionals (MHP) often harbor strong negative attitudes toward people with a sexual attraction to children, hindering the provision of essential treatment. This reluctance stems from pervasive stigmatization, contributing to mental health issues among people with pedophilia and exacerbating risk factors associated with child sexual abuse. Limited research and small sample sizes in prior studies underscore the need to conduct a meta-analysis, examining the effectiveness of educational interventions as a tool for reducing stigmatization toward people with pedophilia in MHP. Eight studies meeting specific inclusion criteria were identified through a literature search. These criteria included (a) peer-reviewed empirical, (b) quantitative data, (c) a focus on attitudes toward people with pedophilia, (d) a sample of MHP that might come in contact with people with pedophilia (or the general public), (e) the intervention is educational, (f) the educational intervention is based on people with pedophilia, (g) pre- and post-test data, and (h) be written in English. Comparable variables within these studies encompassed dangerousness, social distance, intentionality, deviance, punitiveness, anger, sympathy, and motivation to treat. The intervention significantly improved perceptions of dangerousness (d = 0.65), social distance (d = 0.33), intentionality (d = 0.38), and punitiveness (d = 0.77). However, it showed non-significant effects on deviance (d = 0.22), anger (d = −0.22), sympathy (d = −0.12), and motivation to treat (d = −0.04). These findings indicate that educational interventions can reduce MHP stigmatization toward people with pedophilia, especially with contact-based and sufficiently prolonged interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although studies have remarked upon the increase in representation of kinksters and BDSM practices in mainstream media narratives, community voices indicate that these narratives do not provide an authentic portrayal of their community. This misrepresentation of kinksters results in stigmatization and forces the community to manage its minority stress. This article reflects upon the results from a series of interviews with Dutch poly-kink-identified participants about mainstream representations of their community. The participants agree on several main objections to this representation: mainstream media narratives ignore community norms, while they actively sensationalize and pathologize kink, and insist on stereotypical gender relations. Together, this representation undermines the transgressive potential of poly-kink relations and increases the stigmatization of this community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, only three studies investigated the mental health of youth affected by Ebola virus disease (EVD). None explored anxiety and psychological distress symptoms in survivors or orphans. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and determinants of anxiety and psychological distress symptoms among survivors and orphans of the 2018–2020 Ebola epidemic in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during the COVID-19 pandemic. A representative sample of 416 participants (mean age = 13.37, SD = 2.79, 51.20 % girls, 146 survivors, 233 orphans, and 34 orphan-survivor participants) completed measures evaluating anxiety, psychological distress, exposure, resilience, stigmatization related to Ebola and COVID-19. 55.88 % and 55.96 % of survivors and orphans experienced severe symptoms of anxiety and psychological distress. Participants who were both survivors and orphans presented higher prevalence of anxiety and psychological distress (94.12 % and 100 %) compared to survivors (74.03 % and 81.82 %) or orphans (37.99 % and 33.33 %), χ 2 = 70.63, p <.001; χ 2 = 113.50, p <.001. Ebola and COVID-19 related stigmatization were the most important determinants of anxiety (B = 0.40, p <.001; B = 0.37, p <.001) and psychological distress (B = 0.48, p <.001; B = 0.44, p <.001). Resilience was negatively associated with both anxiety and psychological distress. The final regression models explained 49 % and 85 % of the variance of anxiety and psychological distress. The cross-sectional design used prevents to establish causal link. Ebola children and adolescents' survivors and orphans are at major risk of experiencing anxiety and psychological distress in Eastern RDC affected by years of armed conflict. Massive resources are needed to develop and implement programs to reduce stigma and support mental health. • Only 3 studies examine mental health of children affected by Ebola, including two in survivors. • Ebola Child and adolescent survivors and orphans are at major risk of experiencing anxiety and psychological distress symptoms. • Ebola and COVID-19 related stigma were the most important determinants of anxiety and psychological distress symptoms. • Resilience was negatively associated with both anxiety and psychological distress symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stigmatization can negatively affect the relationship between the patient and health professional. The aim of this study was to develop the Scale for Determining Nursing Students' Perceptions of Stigmatization. The population of the study consisted of 403 nursing students. A literature review and qualitative interviews with 24 students were conducted to generate the initial items. Confirmatory factor analysis and exploratory factor analysis were applied to examine the construct validity of the scale. The reliability of the scale was evaluated with Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient and item-total score correlation coefficients. After confirmatory factor analysis, the Scale for Determining Nursing Students' Perceptions of Stigmatization was finalized with 19 items and five sub-dimensions. In the confirmatory factor analysis, the goodness of fit values of the scale was determined as χ2/sd: 2.957; GFI: 0.902; AGFI: 0.869; IFI: 0.906; TLI: 0.937; CFI: 0.905; RMSEA: 0.070; SRMR: 0.063. The reliability of the scale over time was evaluated with the test-retest method, and it was found that the agreement between the responses was very good (ICC: 0.980; p < 0.001). The Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient of the scale was 0.824. It was determined that the Scale for Determining Nursing Students' Perceptions of Stigmatization is a short, easy-to-understand, and psychometrically sound measurement tool that can be safely applied to nursing students. Nursing students' perceptions of stigmatization can be determined using this scale. The nursing education curriculum can be restructured in line with the findings obtained. What is already known about the topic? • The Scale for Determining Nursing Students' Perceptions of Stigmatization is a measurement tool that evaluates nursing students' perceptions of stigmatization. • There is a need for a multidimensional scale that evaluates nursing students' perceptions of stigmatization. What this paper adds? • It was determined that the Scale for Determining Nursing Students' Perceptions of Stigmatization is a valid and reliable measurement tool that can be safely applied to nursing students. • The Scale for Determining Nursing Students' Perceptions of Stigmatization can be applied to all undergraduate nursing students regardless of their year of study. How should the findings be used to influence policy/practice/research/education? • By using the Scale for Determining Nursing Students' Perceptions of Stigmatization, nursing students' perceptions of stigmatization can be determined. • In line with the findings obtained, the nursing education curriculum can be evaluated and restructured. • Strategies and recommendations can be developed to improve the quality of care provided by nursing students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a highly competitive market, managing the quality of destination image is a major concern for tourism marketers and policymakers. Negative connotations attached to a destination can potentially produce forms of stigma and lead to the stigmatization of a destination. Research on stigmas attached to tourists or tourism practitioners has gained growing scholarly attention; however, empirical knowledge on the stigmas associated with a place (spatial stigma) and the underlying factors driving the stigmatization of a destination is yet to be developed in tourism literature. To fill this gap and grounded in a multidisciplinary literature on the stigma-place nexus, this study explores the stigmatization of Iran through an analysis of in-depth interviews with the representatives of country's key tourism informants. The findings of the qualitative study demonstrated how Iran's destination identity is contested. Six reinforcing forms of stigmas were identified: political, religion, security, hygiene, performance and regional stigmas. The study concludes that destination stigma is a multi-dimensional phenomenon that manifests in different ways depending on where it is generated, encountered and experienced. In adopting a more contextual approach the study offers several new perspectives on stigma production, negotiation and resistance in tourism destinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Planning Education & Research is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The benign dermatological hair condition Alopecia Areata (AA) is known to impair Quality of Life (QoL), especially mental and social health, due to the accompanying visible appearance changes. Previous studies have identified demographic, clinical, social, and psychological variables related to QoL. Yet, the novelty of this study lies in examining how QoL differences in AA relate to (combinations of) these variables. The aim of the current study is to identify and characterize subgroups of AA persons with less or more QoL impairment by means of (combinations of) demographic, clinical, psychological, and social factors, including both potential risk (perceived stigmatization, avoidant coping, physical identity definition) and protective factors (disclosure, social support, emotion-focused coping and non-physical identity definition). An online questionnaire was filled out by 322 persons with AA, including the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) as QoL measure, Perceived Stigmatization Questionnaire (FSQ), brief COPE, Social Support Survey, a newly developed identity-definition measure, clinical characteristics, and demographics. Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis identified subgroups based on QoL outcome. Lowest QoL impairment was found in persons with low feelings of being flawed combined with low secretiveness. Low QoL impairment was also found in persons feeling flawed combined with low avoidant coping, low sensitivity to others’ opinions and older age. QoL impairment was intermediate in persons perceiving more social support in those with a younger age, and defining identity less on physical appearance in those sensitive to others’ opinions. Highest QoL impairment was characterized by feeling flawed combined with an avoidant coping style. Current findings provide indications for the identification of risk and protective profiles for QoL impairment and which factors to address in interventions to improve QoL in AA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scanning electron microscopy has revealed variation in the ultrastructure of distinctive isolated pores in or near the central area of raphid diatoms, with different types of pores being restricted to phylogenetic groups. Thus, the widespread use of the term stigma for all such pores not only hides the structural diversity but also obscures the phylogenetic distribution of the different types. This paper provides images of the different types of isolated pores, particularly refining the discrimination of variants within the Cymbellales, and reveals some interesting ecological patterns. Revised definitions of stigmata and stigmoids are proposed, together with the recognition and definition of another type of stigmoid. The restricted distribution of more precisely defined pore types shows the importance of consistent use of terminology and its relevance to phylogenetic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Patients and methods Results Conclusion Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) can severely affect the quality of life (QoL) and is linked to psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, and reduced self‐esteem. Stigmatization due to physical appearance may significantly contribute to the psychological burden and impact on QoL for HS patients. This study investigates the association between stigmatization, depression, anxiety, and health‐ and disease‐related variables among HS patients in Europe.This observational cross‐sectional multicenter study was conducted across 22 dermatological outpatient clinics in 17 European countries. Data collected included sociodemographic variables, general health variables, disease‐related variables, perceived stigmatization (PSQ), and mental health (PHQ‐2, GAD‐2).Of the 5487 dermatological patients, 142 (2.6%) were diagnosed with HS, and data from 135 patients (70.1% women, mean age 38.2 years) who completed the PSQ questionnaire were analyzed. Scores on the stigmatization measure indicated that significant stigmatization levels were present in the sample. Linear regression models revealed a significant relationship between stigmatization and both the duration of HS and the presence of itch. Similar findings were noted for the PSQ “confused/staring behavior” scale with depression. The PSQ “absence of friendly behavior” scale was inversely associated with general health status, whereas the “hostile behavior” scale was positively linked to depression.HS patients experience significant stigmatization linked to disease duration, itch, and depression. Comprehensive management, including screening for psychosocial co‐morbidity, is essential, as is providing access to psychological interventions that support patients to both manage internal distress and the potential reactions of others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article contributes to the debate on the stigmatization of street vendors and market traders by illuminating the moralizing and disciplinary state interventions that city officials used in Amsterdam to direct the social and spatial behaviors of this group in the period of the "civilizing offensive" at the beginning of the twentieth century. By using archive materials, this article empirically demonstrates that these interventions were justified by stigmatizing narratives that represented street vendors as "ill-adapted" and "undisciplined," and considered their behaviors as an inevitable outcome of their marginalized socioeconomic position. Whereas in recent studies neoliberalism is often mentioned as the driving force behind narratives that stigmatize street vendors and market traders, the case of Amsterdam demonstrates that the stigmatization and regulation of such marginalized communities could better be considered as consistent and historical processes in which the state, particularly the local state, offers its assistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Experiences of discrimination in healthcare lead to poorer mental and physical health for transgender individuals. There is evidence that trans-specialists, i.e. health professionals specializing in transgender care, are an important source of discrimination experienced by transgender individuals in healthcare. In this qualitative interview study, we explored the reasons for this possibly surprising finding by analyzing subjective views of trans-specialists on various issues related to discrimination of transgender individuals. Methods: We conducted 20 semi-structured, qualitative, exploratory interviews with healthcare professionals specializing in transgender care. Interview questions were developed based on an extensive literature analysis and results of previous research on the topic. The interviews were conducted online, were digitally recorded and transcribed. Data analysis was conducted using the methods of content analysis and thematic analysis. Results: The interviewees had great difficulty giving a consistent definition of the concept of gender identity. Most of them saw it as a self-determination of a transgender individual. Although herewith emphasizing the autonomy of transgender individuals, most trans-specialists felt that they had to be convinced of their patient's transsexuality to carry out treatment. Most trans-specialists reported having had doubts about whether some transgender individuals were suffering from gender incongruence or not. There was also ambiguity among interviewees about whether transsexuality is a mental illness. Conclusions: We were able to identify specific topics that can cause discrimination experiences on the part of transgender individuals in their contact with trans-specialists. These include the vagueness of the construct of gender identity and the ambivalence between respect for the autonomy of transgender individuals and the validation of the diagnosis "transsexuality". Also, uncertainties regarding the classification of transsexuality as a mental illness can lead to experiences of discrimination. Furthermore, our results imply that trans-specialists might remember own discriminatory behavior less than it actually took place. Our results can contribute to the development of specific measures to avoid discrimination experiences of transgender individuals in contact with trans-specialists. These should include a reflection on one's own gender identity and training on mechanisms of discrimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary literature has chiefly studied the Kurdish issue from a macro-political perspective. In this paper, we focus on ordinary Kurdish youth's everyday responses to stigma and discrimination from the majority Turkish group and connect them to the macro-political context. Drawing on 29 qualitative in-depth interviews with Kurdish students in Izmir, we document that this group seeks to negotiate their belonging in the face of their characterizations as backward, terrorist, and disloyal. The findings suggest that these youth respond to stigmas, depending on contextual dynamics, by specific destigmatization strategies such as confronting, managing the self, assuming individual responsibility, and avoiding. We argue that ongoing armed conflict stigmatizes Kurds as separatists, and invisible markers between Kurds and Turks make hiding ethnicity the primary destigmatization strategy for Kurds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Clinical Epileptology / Zertifizierte Fortbildung is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Students with intellectual or physical disabilities still face public and institutional stigmatization. The current study examines how different news portrayals of college students with a disability affect readers' stigma-related attitudes and behavioral intentions. A 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 full-factorial experiment was conducted, in which N = 767 respondents were presented a news article about a student with a disability. The article was manipulated regarding exemplar's type of disability, gender, socioeconomic status, and sexual orientation. All four tested exemplar characteristics and respondents' gender affected several dimensions of stigmatization, albeit often as interaction effects. Overall, findings indicate that story-unrelated characteristics of portrayed individuals affect readers' generalized stigma-relevant attitudes, emotional reactions, and behavioral intentions. Results are discussed regarding the likelihood for accidental stigmatization through journalistic exemplar choices, and regarding implications for a stigma-sensitive health communication and anti-stigma communication practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIntroduction: Substance use disorder (SUD) stigma undermines the implementation of effective harm reduction and treatment strategies in the U.S. and can impede individuals from seeking treatment. One research question guided this study: How do personal beliefs regarding SUD, familiarity with SUDs, and culture (religion, political ideology, and urbanicity), shape perceived societal SUD stigma? Methods: An online survey was sent to affiliates of a Michigan-based organization, Families Against Narcotics and administrators of Michigan Prepaid Inpatient Health Plan regional entities (N = 1,559). Results: On average respondents viewed society as moderately stigmatizing. The beliefs that drug users can stop whenever they want and that drug users have weak character were significantly associated with greater perceived levels of societal SUD stigma. The effects of religion on perceived stigma may be affected by beliefs of the immorality of drug use, while the effects of political ideology on perceived stigma may differ based on beliefs of the controllability of drug use. The effect of urbanicity may rely on perceived accessibility of treatment. Conclusion: Our findings reflect the intersection of personal beliefs and cultural contexts as they shape perceived societal SUD stigmatization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jean-Martin Charcot believed that “miraculous” cures followed the rules of nature and that the resolution of physical stigmata after pilgrimages to shrines followed the laws of physiology. He acknowledged that some of the patients he had failed to improve at La Salpêtrière had subsequently been cured by the “faith cure” at Lourdes, but he believed their recovery had occurred through “autosuggestion.” Although this term is more commonly associated with his collaborator Pierre Janet, it is clearly expressed in Charcot’s final pronouncements. Charcot’s recognition of the neurological origin of hysteria is central to contemporary ideas about the cause of functional neurological disorders, and even some components of his once derided treatment approach—including mental training, graded exercise, and medical hypnotism—are in vogue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stigmatization is a widespread social process that is sustained via the use of social, cultural, economic, and political power, and it has negative outcomes such as discrimination and exclusion. In India, transgender people have historically been called Hijra, Aravanis, and Kothis, and they have struggled since British colonialism against cisgender and heteronormative conventions that label them as outsiders despite their deep pre-colonial cultural origins. This research uses Bronfenbrenner’s socio-ecological model t explore the independence and vulnerability of 45 transgender women living in Sambalpur City, Western Odisha, India. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather information from the group through the snowball sampling method. The research findings show that transgender women in India confront multiple forms of prejudice and stigma that diminish their agency and leave them more susceptible to harm. By underscoring the significance of historical, social, and cultural aspects, the socio-ecological model provides a holistic lens through which to comprehend these difficulties. Despite progress in legal recognition, transgender women continue to face significant barriers, necessitating ongoing socio-cultural, legal, and political efforts to reduce stigma and discrimination and enhance the agency, social inclusion, and wellbeing of transgender women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The United States government has implemented various social policies (e.g., Medicare) to support children and families (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2023). An emerging body of research seems to indicate that many of these programs are being underutilized by Latinx families even though they are sorely needed. Latinx families are often framed as undeserving, taking advantage of social policies, and as a criminal threat to the United States (Baranauskas & Stowell, 2022). Drawing on cultural stress theory (Salas-Wright & Schwartz, 2019), the present study explores how the deficit framing of Latinx families influences how they navigate social policies. Method: This study draws on data from four qualitative projects across Oregon and California that explored the experiences of Latinx families accessing services to support their families. Results: Findings indicate that Latinx families experience multiple stressors when navigating social policies or programs (e.g., shame/fear and racism) for their families. These stressors discourage Latinx families from accessing social programs, which exacerbates disparities in the health, development, and learning of Latinx children and families. Conclusions: Findings from this study can further inform advocacy efforts to create meaningful systemic changes that reduce inequities and call out discrimination/racism within our policy system. Public Significance Statement: The demonization and stigmatization of Latinx communities impact access to social service programs that have a positive impact on children's learning and development and families' well-being. This is due not to a lack of need but to the fear, shame, and stress that comes along with this demonization and stigmatization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This text explores the portrayal of Jesus in modern German and Polish literature, examining how authors challenge traditional interpretations and offer alternative perspectives. German authors like Sibylle Lewitscharoff, Arnold Stadler, and Michael Köhlmeier use unconventional narratives and perspectives to create new meanings around Jesus. In Polish literature, Jesus has been depicted as a symbol of Polish identity and resistance against political oppression, but more recent works have questioned traditional interpretations and presented Jesus in a more relatable way. The text also discusses the tension between religious and secular influences and the complex nature of Jesus as depicted in literature. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Çalışma ve Toplum is the property of Calisma ve Toplum and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This essay explores the concept of 'contrarianism' in its polymorphic nature. The figure of the 'contrarian' is likened to Janus, simultaneously challenging and benefiting from existing power structures. The essay examines the persistent stigmatization of individuals who learn to live with debilitating somatic illnesses and the discrimination against those with psychogenic bodies, interpreting them as manifestations of contrarianism. It considers how reactions such as culturally inappropriate responses to stressors, socially deviant behaviour and conflicts between individuals and society can be viewed as attempts to challenge prevailing modes of coexistence. Drawing on the works of Roland Barthes and Lauren Berlant, this essay proposes contrarianism as a multifaceted exploration of non-stigmatized ways of leading an 'idiorhythmic' life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We offer a framework to assess marketing activities for their relationship to human rights, grounded in the recognition that respect for dignity—the inalienable, inherent, and equal value possessed by all humans—is at their core. Drawing from historical and recent thought in philosophy, management and medicine, we focus on three factors of dignity: recognition, agency and equity. We then integrate academic research from our own field as the basis of a marketing-specific conceptualization of dignity, offering a list of assessment questions for firms desiring to integrate dignity into their marketing activities. Given the nascent state of research on dignity in marketing, we also propose a set of questions for future inquiry. We close with three case studies that highlight organizations' success or failure in affirming dignity in areas relevant to the Sustainable Development Goals, and offer an invitation to esearchers to partner with global dignity-centric organizations to continue this work across cultures and challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined different degrees of awareness regarding the stigmatization of Southern California (SoCal) Spanish across four groups of Spanish–English bilinguals from Southern California (n = 87). The participants were presented with Spanish sentences and asked to decide which profile of speaker would likely express that sentence, given six options, such as: "someone living in Los Angeles/SoCal who grew up in Mexico" or "a Spanish-English bilingual who grew up in Los Angeles/SoCal". Experimental stimuli included seven different linguistic categories of stigmatization, including English contact forms. The participants tended to attribute the stigmatized forms to bilinguals who grew up in Southern California. Central Colloquial and Taboo categories were more salient and perceived as forms used by people in Mexico. In contrast, English borrowings and redundancies seemed to be recognized by the participants, particularly for simultaneous bilinguals who grew up in Southern California, as salient forms of an identified Southern California Spanish variety. The results are interpreted within Exemplar Theory, with certain stigmatized forms indexing "Mexican Spanish" exemplars, and English borrowings identified as exemplars of SoCal Spanish. We advocate for usage-based approaches to understanding language perceptions and critical approaches to interrogating academic discourses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite an emerging mobility of Chinese doctoral students to Malaysia, little is known about how this cohort perceives their study sojourn, especially in relation to a salient yet under-researched discourse widely circulating in the Chinese media that calls into question doctorates obtained from Southeast Asian universities. Utilizing a qualitative method based on 10 Chinese doctoral students, guided by a theoretical framework incorporating Whiteness and agency in mobility, this study unpacks how this cohort understands and addresses the disparaging discourse. Findings reveal that the pejorative discourse is tantamount to a process of stigmatization entrenched in the legacy of Whiteness, which is reinforced by the students' voluntary practice of Whiteness as aspiration, investment, and malleability. Confronting this discourse, the participants established themselves as agentic actors who mobilized collective agency for contestation to rectify the erroneous conception and restore their esteem. This study ends with some implications and future research directions for international student mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reviews common myths and stereotypes about obesity that distort the understanding of its causes and pathogenesis and contribute to the disease stigmatization among the cardiology medical community. Obesity is a chronic, relapsing, multifactorial disease characterized by excessive formation of adipose tissue, progressing in its natural course and, as a rule, having an increased cardiometabolic risk. For effective prevention of complications, it is necessary to start treating obesity at the risk and pre-disease stages (abdominal obesity and overweight). The causes of obesity include genetic, metabolic, social and environmental factors. The review emphasizes that obesity is not exclusively a consequence of a lack of willpower in choosing food products according to the rules of healthy eating or a sedentary lifestyle. Many stereotypes, such as the idea that all patients with excess body weight have an alimentary genesis of the disease and all clinical "findings" are associated with obesity, do not correspond to reality and hinder effective prevention and treatment strategies. No other chronic non-communicable disease is as stigmatized as obesity. Moreover, despite the development of modern pharmacotherapy, behavioral therapy for obesity, and bariatric surgery, there is high clinical inertia in timely initiation of treatment for this disease. Body weight is becoming the same target indicator in general therapeutic practice as blood pressure or glycemia. Modern medicine dictates the need to rely solely on the evidence base to refute myths in order to create a more inclusive and supportive environment that promotes the health and well-being of patients.

Abstract Background Experiences of discrimination in healthcare lead to poorer mental and physical health for transgender individuals. There is evidence that trans-specialists, i.e. health professionals specializing in transgender care, are an important source of discrimination experienced by transgender individuals in healthcare. In this qualitative interview study, we explored the reasons for this possibly surprising finding by analyzing subjective views of trans-specialists on various issues related to discrimination of transgender individuals. Methods We conducted 20 semi-structured, qualitative, exploratory interviews with healthcare professionals specializing in transgender care. Interview questions were developed based on an extensive literature analysis and results of previous research on the topic. The interviews were conducted online, were digitally recorded and transcribed. Data analysis was conducted using the methods of content analysis and thematic analysis. Results The interviewees had great difficulty giving a consistent definition of the concept of gender identity. Most of them saw it as a self-determination of a transgender individual. Although herewith emphasizing the autonomy of transgender individuals, most trans-specialists felt that they had to be convinced of their patient’s transsexuality to carry out treatment. Most trans-specialists reported having had doubts about whether some transgender individuals were suffering from gender incongruence or not. There was also ambiguity among interviewees about whether transsexuality is a mental illness. Conclusions We were able to identify specific topics that can cause discrimination experiences on the part of transgender individuals in their contact with trans-specialists. These include the vagueness of the construct of gender identity and the ambivalence between respect for the autonomy of transgender individuals and the validation of the diagnosis “transsexuality”. Also, uncertainties regarding the classification of transsexuality as a mental illness can lead to experiences of discrimination. Furthermore, our results imply that trans-specialists might remember own discriminatory behavior less than it actually took place. Our results can contribute to the development of specific measures to avoid discrimination experiences of transgender individuals in contact with trans-specialists. These should include a reflection on one’s own gender identity and training on mechanisms of discrimination.

Active and passive measures in the labour market have a significant impact on employees, employers and the economy in general. They contribute to creating a fair, safe and prosperous work environment, promoting personal and professional development, protecting employees' rights and facilitating the creation of employment opportunities and economic growth. These measures are essential to ensure the sustainability of the labour market and to promote the overall well-being of society. Active and passive measures in the labour market may vary depending on the legislation and policies in each country or region. They can be implemented by governments, trade unions, employers or other institutions with labour responsibilities. The objective of this article is to highlight whether the existing active labour market measures are a real support, if they are designed and implemented in a responsible way, with the consultation and involvement of the beneficiaries of these measures, or whether the people who end up benefiting from the existing labour market measures are subject to stigmatisation. The analysis carried out refers to the periods between 1993 and 2023 in Romania. In the period 1993 – 2005 the indicators are expressed in million lei, and since 2005, the indicators are expressed in million lei RON. As a conclusion, the importance of adapting existing measures to individual needs and providing support in a respectful, non-discriminatory way and in order to encourage and facilitate the integration and professional development of jobseekers is highlighted.

Children's experience of disability-related stigmatization is a central social justice issue across cultures. Yet children's voices are rarely heard by policy makers, and available programs for children with disabilities typically lack input from children's own experiences. This paper presents a cross-cultural case study of how three children with disabilities in Japan and the U.S. responded to stigmatization from their "typically-developing" peers. We choose these cases for in-depth examination to contextualize and deepen our understanding of themes identified from our larger, ethnographic study. Similar to the participants in our larger study, these elementary school-aged children experienced disability-related stigmatization, including teasing and bullying. They actively responded to reduce their immediate exposure to stigmatization. Some of these responses, however, created additional challenges. For example, children's physical fighting in response to teasing resulted in punitive discipline in the U.S. Children's avoidance of peers undermined academic achievement and psychosocial development, especially in Japan where peer groups are central contexts for education. Furthermore, children's responses to stigmatization often concealed their peer struggles or were misunderstood by educators, which delayed their access to appropriate support. We discuss social work implications for child-centered programs of support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epilepsy belongs to one of the most ancient diseases. From the days of yore, patients suffering from epilepsy faced stigma and discrimination because medical knowledge at that time was limited so that such condition was associated with various mystical and mythical phenomena, with no treatment available. The article extensively examines the issue of epilepsy stigma, covering the long history of the disease and highlighting stigma as a serious social problem. Many epileptic patients suffer not only from the disease symptoms but also from social discrimination, which profoundly lowers their quality of life and leads to social maladjustment. Unfortunately, epilepsy stigma has not disappeared completely and persists not only in developing but also in developed countries. We demonstrate the relevance of the problem and the need to increase relevant awareness. The times when epileptic patients were considered possessed by evil spirits and incurable are long gone, so any form of social discrimination against such people is unacceptable in modern society.

To investigate the opinions of women residing in Turkey regarding abortion and its correlation with spirituality. A descriptive and cross-sectional study. The study included 487 women and data was collected between October and December 2023. The Descriptive Information Form, Stigmatizing Attitudes, Beliefs and Actions Scale (SABAS), and Spirituality Scale (SS) were used to evaluate the data and determine the correlation between them. Of the women surveyed, 78.6% reported no prior experience with curettage. The participants had low SABAS scores (26.95 ± 7.43) and high SS scores (22.50 ± 5.80). Age, education, employment status, religious affiliation, history of curettage, age at first childbirth, number of children, and number of siblings were all significantly correlated with SABAS and SS (p < 0.05). Additionally, a significant positive correlation was found between the participants' SABAS total score and all sub-factor scores, as well as their SS total scores. It was also determined that as women's stigmatization and negative attitudes towards curettage increased, their spiritual feelings increased as well (p < 0.05). A significant positive correlation was found between SS score and age and SABAS, and a negative correlation was found with the number of births (p < 0.05). It was found that women's stigmatizing attitudes towards abortion were influenced by their spiritual beliefs. To prevent women from being caught between the consequences of unwanted pregnancies and their spiritual beliefs, it is important to meet their needs for family planning and health counseling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing popularity of frisbee sport in China has brought both recognition and stigmatisation. Rooted in the social identity perspective, this study employs in-depth interviews and participatory observation to explore this phenomenon, creating a multifaceted analytical framework that includes affective commitment, self-categorisation, group self-esteem and self-expansion. The study finds that the primary manifestations of frisbee stigmatisation encompass the heightened online attention and scrutiny, conflicts due to limited playing venues, misconceptions from one-sided sport perceptions, and controversies around its use for blind dates. Moreover, the study reveals that frisbee community members employ diverse strategies to counteract stigma, such as positive confrontation, ignoring or humorously resolving stigmatisation, selective online self-presentation, and converting opponents into supporters. This research contributes to the field of leisure studies by offering a deeper understanding of how leisure sports identities are negotiated in the context of societal prejudices. Furthermore, it provides practical insights for fostering resilience, promoting a positive sports culture, and encouraging a healthier approach to leisure sports among youth, potentially minimising the negative impact of stigma on emerging leisure sports activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to a dominant view of stigma, a person is stigmatized within a community if sufficiently many people within that community hold a bad view of her. I call this the 'Bad View Model'. In this paper, I argue against the Bad View Model on the grounds that such beliefs are neither necessary nor sufficient for stigma, and that the account cannot explain the distinctive phenomenology of stigma, including certain vulnerabilities to shame. I then develop an alternative that explains these features of stigma, which I call the 'Shaming Model'. On this view, a person is stigmatized within a community if she is shamed by members of that community, and this is explained by their belief that she has deviated from some social norm and/or standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: Early detection of occult spinal dysraphism, such as diastematomyelia with tethered cord, is vital to prevent neurological damage. Though rarely diagnosed in the neonatal period, cutaneous stigmata can aid early identification. Utilizing neonatal ultrasound enables timely management and multidisciplinary intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between police corruption and violence is well established in Latin America. Those with less power in poor communities often adapt their actions to serve their group interests in response to constraints placed on them by law enforcement. Using ethnographic and qualitative methods, we probe the effect of corrupt police behavior on the stigma of arrest and imprisonment by members of impoverished neighborhoods in Mexico City. Using an interpretive approach, we find that widespread corruption and police violence has indirectly mitigated the negative effects of the stigma or arrest and incarceration by what we term the repudiation of stigma. For the subjects in our study, the adjustment to pervasive corruption has led amelioration of the social stigma associated with arrest and incarceration among those with whom they share similar biographies of experience. More generally, repudiation of stigma highlights the ability of the marginalized to deflect the social consequences of being arrested and having a criminal record. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore their perceptions and attitudes toward condom use and the underlying reasons for the low usage frequency among Chinese older adults. Methods: A qualitative study design utilizing interpretive phenomenological analysis was employed. Data were collected through field observation and face‐to‐face in‐depth interviews among older adults aged 50 years or above and having engaged in sexual activities within the previous year. Results: Three main themes emerged: perceiving unnecessary due to misconceptions and low awareness, interactive stereotypes rooted in sociocultural beliefs, and stigmatized social norms including gender inequity and economic unbalance. Conclusions: Tailored interventions focusing on addressing misconceptions, increasing awareness, and reducing culturally ingrained stereotypes and stigma surrounding condom use are essential to promote condom use among older adults in order to prevent HIV transmission in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research considers the representation of cultural deracination in Mohamed Al 'Ali 'Ar'Ar's novel Mā lā Tadhruhū al-Riyāḥ. The book engages with the discourse of colonial mimicry bringing to the surface the bitter ramifications of asymmetrical construction of the colonized's identity. In his depiction of the "mimic man" in colonial Algeria, Ar'Ar calls for his readers to probe into the experience of his protagonist, al-Bashir, whose dazzlement of the colonizers' power brings him under France's "mission civilisatrice." Following a Conradian journey to Paris, as a soldier in the French army, al-Bashir has to face a civilizational shock. In placing the novel in conversation with Bhabha's mimicry, the research traces how the text interrogates the implications of colonial mimicry on a character entirely fraught with futility and lack of certainty that stem from his self-immersion in Ngũgĩan "cultural Parrotry." Correspondingly, the protagonist experiences cultural depersonalization, which inevitably leads him to undergo an "identity shift" in order to abolish stigmatization. The study thus follows al-Bashir's rebellious metamorphosis from being the metonymically Westernized similar-but-not-quite "interpreter" to being the "civilized master." Interestingly, the article concludes that the protagonist's name change accelerates his mimetic conversion to produce a blurred copy of the colonizer: "al-Bashir-turned-Jacques" emerges as a fully-fledged oppressor whose subjugation of his fellow countrymen is hard to ignore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual wellness can be a difficult topic for people who have both bipolar disorder (BD) and bisexual identities, despite the essential role sexuality plays as a core feature of health and human behavior. In the United States, bi+ (bisexual, pansexual, sexually fluid) persons with BD can experience discrimination and face barriers by living in a society where misinformation and ableist ideals remain unchallenged. Examples of this include persistent stereotyping of hypersexuality and risky sexual behaviors, stigmatization, erasure, and biases against both groups. These groups need to be examined free from ableist tendencies and generalizations. In this conceptual paper, we introduce varied experiences of bi + and bipolar individuals, with a focus on their ability to engage freely with their sexuality despite societal judgments and conventions that refuse to acknowledge their sexuality in literature, academic research, and public spaces. By assessing this specific population, we have identified patterns and correlations that can start conversations to create a better understanding and acceptance of fluid sexualities and marginalized populations. We ultimately aim to guide further research for both bi + and bipolar populations that will advance cultural acceptance and facilitate sexual empowerment. This, in turn, may help in developing best practices, expanding knowledge, improving sexual health education, and ultimately reducing stigma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals with the construction of the identity of asexuals in Czech society. The author focuses on coming out and feelings of stigmatisation, relationships and intimacy, the the perceived existence of a separate asexual community, and the visibility of asexuals in society. In this research, a qualitative study was carried out among among people who identify as asexuals. The aim of the analysis was to determine how asexual people construct their social identity. People often do not know the meaning of the term 'asexuality' and this can result in the social stigmatisation of asexuals. In some respects, asexual people are similar to other sexual minorities, but not all of them feel they are a part of the LGBT+ community. The study's participants shared the view that Czech asexual people are invisible in Czech society. They form networks through the internet forum asexual.cz, but they do not form a separate community or a social movement and they still remain socially invisible. Approaching asexuality as a separate category of sexual identity is key for them to understand how they differ from others and for them to communicate with other people. They also regard education on asexuality as a way of promoting the public understanding and de-stigmatisation of asexuality in Czech society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Living with dementia can be challenging, even more so for people diagnosed before age 65. Loss of identity is one of the main subjective consequences dementia poses at this stage in life due to the loss of social relations and daily activities. While a growing body of research is reporting the experienced impact of early-onset dementia on identity for this group, studies synthesizing this knowledge are very limited. Therefore, we have conducted a meta-ethnographic review to explain how people with early-onset dementia form their sense of identity. Method: A systematic review of literature from five databases was conducted. Ten original studies published between 2004 and 2020 were included and analyzed using an interpretive approach. Findings: A conceptual interpretation emerged from the analysis, showing that social arenas and activities of daily life, as well as assumptions about dementia and natural aging made by the participants and society, influenced the participants' sense of identity. Conclusion: Being in nonjudgmental environments can support people with early-onset dementia in creating continuity and positive connections in their personal history. Providing such environments can be a viable venue for healthcare professionals to support people with early-onset dementia in maintaining a positive sense of identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to report on the mediator role of parenting stress in the effect of stigmatization on burnout in parents of children with autism. A descriptive and correlational research design was used in this study. The sample consisted of 146 parents who had children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and volunteered to participate in the study. A "Personal Information Form", the "Parents' Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale", the "Parenting Stress Scale", and the "Parental Burnout Assessment" were used for data collection. In the study, it was observed that the feeling of stigmatization increased as the education level increased and that variables such as the ages of the parent and the child and an increase in the number of children requiring care also affected the feeling of stigmatization. Parenting stress was found to have a "partial mediator" role in the effect of stigmatization on parental burnout. Our findings emphasized the heterogeneous correlation between stigmatization, burnout, and stress levels of parents of children with autism. This study has key implications for pediatric nursing practices. Pediatric nurses can educate the community about autism, what issues should be considered, and how to support parents. Furthermore, nurses can introduce parents who have children with autism to each other and direct them to parent-child activities that can regulate their moods. • Parents of children with autism often experience mood changes. • The correlation between stigma, burnout and stress in parents of children with ASD is heterogeneous. • Pediatric nurses should provide all kinds of support to families of children with autism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stratification economics (SE) investigates how economies are organized around group inequalities, especially by race and gender but also by ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, etc. Its historical origins and theoretical foundations have both a structural strand that addresses how and a social behavioural strand. SE's structural strand goes back to Ricardo and Marx regarding the relationship between growth and distribution, and then draws on recent economic theory of noncompeting groups and dual economy models of labour market segmentation. SE's structural strand produces an inequality-based understanding of economics' standard goods taxonomy. The social behavioural strand builds on Du Bois's psychological wage concept, Veblen's social ladders theory of emulation, Blumer's theory of prejudice and stereotyping, and current social identity theory. SE's social behavioural strand makes it possible to explain how discrimination selectively stigmatizes people's social identities in order to reinforce existing intergroup inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stigmatized language in Moroccan films demonstrates gender attitudes and social conventions when treating gender biases and inequalities. Moroccan cinema, in general, contributes to the reinforcement of traditional gender roles through the use of sexist language and stigmas in dialogues tied within narrative scenes. Sexism in Moroccan films and sitcoms is depicted in several ways, portraying women's inferiority and submissiveness. Such gender inequalities represent women as primarily responsible for the domestic sphere and removed from public interests. The current research aims to investigate the representations of the stigmatized linguistic discourse used against women by undertaking a study about how the stigmas strengthen social and cultural stereotypes. The research studies the linguistic derogatory terms, gender stereotypes, reification or terms that treat women as sexual objects, and dismissive attitudes and the way they are depicted within cultural norms, along with their effect on cultural perspectives. The study utilizes a mixed approach of selected Moroccan films and sitcoms through the analysis of dialogues, as well as interactions among characters. It aims at discerning the representations of sexist language and the way gender inequalities are maintained. The research data is collected from a variety set of films that treat sexism from different understandings and interpretations and the way language portrays and depicts stigmatized discourses. The data analysis stands up at pointing out various ways in which gendered stereotypes or negative, derogatory terms are used against social groups, typically women. The present research comes up to reveal that these gendered depictions aim at strengthening social biases and cultural recognitions of gender stereotypes. The results unveil salient interrelations between gender representations and the reinforcement of gender biases. The research concludes that Moroccan films and sitcoms play a significant part in structuring prerequisite linguistic stigmas. Through drawing the salient ways in which sexist language is used in films, the research points out the significance of raising awareness through media interpretations of gender discourses. The findings display that the Moroccan cinema and the way its gender discourses are represented reinforce gender portrayals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates how stigmatized groups get organized to fight stigmatization through content-moderation practices on social media platforms. We apply a communicative understanding of stigmatization and stigma management, theorizing stigmatization as disruptive for a stigmatized group's communicative connections to (non-)stigmatized groups. This communicative separation makes it particularly difficult for the stigmatized to organize the beneficial relations to other (non-)stigmatized groups needed to reconstruct stigma jointly. In this article, we investigate how stigmatized groups reconstruct their stigma despite communicative separation. Empirically, we build on a netnographic case study of pole dancers protesting a shadowban on Instagram. Shadowbanning represents a stigmatization practice that moderates content based on its association with sex work. The analysis shows how pole dancers and other stigmatized groups manage stigmatization through a process of stigma maintenance and stigma reconstruction. By emphasizing their difference to sex work through assimilating fitness jargon and distancing themselves from the sex industry, the pole dancers maintain the stigma but regain their communicative abilities by siding with Instagram. This victory initiates a shift in emphasizing solidarity and allows pole dancers and other stigmatized groups to embrace the stigma, forge new ties, and reach out to (non-)stigmatized groups to reconstruct stigma jointly. This study extends the stigma management literature by showing the interlinkage between different stigma-management strategies and their implications for overcoming communicative separation. We conclude by discussing the hardships of organizing stigma reconstruction and stigmatized groups' strategies to overcome them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Forensic psychiatric patients require specialized care due to the unique challenges in forensic settings. Negative attitudes and beliefs towards mentally disordered offenders can lead to discrimination against patients and are related to worse outcomes. Forensic psychiatric nurses play a crucial role in the treatment of these patients. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs of forensic psychiatric nurses and general medicine nurses towards psychiatric patients and to compare them between nurse groups. Method: The study was conducted with 46 nurses working in the High-Security Forensic Psychiatry Clinic (Mean age: 35.46, SD= 7.16) and 58 nurses working in other inpatient settings (Mean age:36.28, SD=8.78) aged between 18-65 between December 2020 and April 2021 in Turkey. Nurses in the forensic psychiatry clinic were required to have at least 6 months of experience in the clinic. Results: Forensic psychiatric nurses exhibited more positive attitudes towards patients (p<.0001), showing lower tendency to be socially distant (p=.009), higher trust (p<.0001), higher willingness to treat (p<.0001), lower tendency to perceive patients as threatening (p=.004), and more general positive attitudes. Significant relationships were found between some of the stigma-related scales we used and certain factors. For forensic nurses, being male (p=0.043) and single (p=,025), working long hours (p=.047), and having fewer children (p=.005) were related to more negative perceptions about delinquents. Insufficient knowledge about forensic psychiatry was linked to negative beliefs about mental disorders (p=0.017) and specifically the curability of mental disorders (p=0.008). Having more siblings was related to higher embarrassment about mental disorders (p=.043). For general nurses, having first-degree relatives who receive psychiatric treatment was related to perceiving patients as threatening (p=.021)) and negative perceptions about delinquents (p=.007). Being older was related to more positive beliefs about mental patients' dangerousness (p=.026). Having more siblings was associated with higher trust toward patients (p=0.002). Conclusions: These findings emphasize the importance of addressing stigmatization among healthcare professionals, particularly forensic psychiatry nurses and general nurses. Providing comprehensive training about mental disorders and forensic psychiatry and promoting empathy and understanding can enhance the quality of care for patients with mental illnesses and contribute to better mental health outcomes for society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]