Stigm Notes On The Management Of Spoiled Identity

In chapter one of Stigma, Goffman describes different definitions of the term stigma. For example in the very beginning of the book he describes how early Greeks used the term stigma. He describes how the Greeks would refer stigma to body markings of different individuals to show how they were deviant and socially unacceptable in their society at that time. Goffman then describes how in later Christianity the word stigma and body markings meant a spiritual symbol or a symbol for a physical disorder. Throughout chapter one Goffman identifies three different types of stigma; body which can be described as physical, character which is described as internal or personal, and tribal stigma which could be consider social or even cultural. After identifying these three different stigmas, Goffman then describes how there

The stigmatised person can employ ways in which they can compensate for their label such as highlighting a special talent (Goffman, 1963), The stigmatised person can use their difference as an excuse to underachieve in life (Goffman, 1963). They can live in the shadow of their stigma, which can lead to further stigma and develop character traits such as low self-esteem (Palamar, 2017). If it’s within its norms and boundaries, stigma and deviance can still operate successfully (Goffman, 1963). An example of a stigmatised group is outlaw motorcycle bike gangs (Vice, 2014). The targeting of a specific group in society can lead to isolation, hopelessness, and self-stigma and in this case a criminal identity (Uroda, 2016).

I have chosen to examine Irving Goffman’s contributions to the theory of social stigma, specifically through the perspectives presented in Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity. My analysis of this work leads me to imagine communication as a mask, possessing the ability to shield the wearer’s actual social identity from observers.

The United States is an individualistic culture. Americans emphasize the goals and actions of the individual rather than society in its entirety. Therefore, one’s identity becomes very important; personal identity is more valued than community identity. The personal identity looks a person just as an individual. Community identity is the association to others and feeling as though one is a part of something much grander than just solidarity (Domenici & Littlejohn 2006). This focus on the individual in the United State, though, risks intrusion of being isolated due to the vast differences amongst civilians. Negative attitudes toward these differences are also known as stigma, which are communicated to a wide variety of groups of individuals. Goffman is extremely credited in his work in defining stigma and how society communicates stigma. Stigma is the situation of the individual who is disqualified from full social acceptance (Goffman, 1963). Goffman recognized that many are stigmatized. He analyzes the stigmatized person and how they communicate with “normals”—those who are not stigmatized.

Erving Goffman maintained that negative labels are often stigmatizing. He believed that stigmas result in a “spoiled identity.” Goffman coined the term stigma to describe the labels society uses to devalue members of certain social groups (pg. 107). He identified three categories or types of stigmas: abominations of the body, blemishes of individual character, and tribal. When a person became aware of a certain stigma they had been labeled to, Goffman noted three ways to manage it: hide the stigma, distance themselves from the stigma or try to correct it, and embrace or accept the stigma. The movie Dallas Buyers Club offers a chance to see several stigmas brought to light, and the way that each was handled. For instance there are examples of HIV/AIDS, homosexuality, feminism, and criminal activity that are prevalent and shape the way the movie is organized.

The idea of stigma and what it is like to be a stigmatized person was conducted by sociologist Erving Goffman. He analyzed how stigmatized individuals feel about themselves and their relationships with people that are considered “normal”. Stigmatized individuals are people who are not socially accepted and are constantly eager to alter their social identifies: physically deformed people, mentally ill patients, drug addicts, homosexuals, etc.

In chapter one the use of the concept stigma, stigma is a characteristic that discredits

Goffman (1963) stated in his that society forms opinions and attaches certain attributes to individuals when first introduced. These will be called virtual social identity. The stranger’s actual social identity will be the attributes that he actually possess. Stigma is when this person’s attribute is a less desirable kind and the person is reduced from being a complete and normal person to a stained, discounted one. Three different types of stigma exist: Body deformities, imperfections of the individual character and the tribal stigma. In order for stigma to exist, there need to be individuals that attach the label and those individuals that are being labelled. The person being stigmatised might become defensive and society might see this

This essay will discuss why stigma has a profound effect on a person affected by HIV/AIDS. It will first look at the definitions of stigma and explain the process and types of stigma. It will explain how people with HIV/AIDS can be affected by stigma. It will then look at the key characteristics found in stigma and explain why people with HIV/AIDS are stigmatised. It will further look at how stigma may have affected a person with HIV/AIDS in the 1980’s compared to how it may affect a person post 2000. It will explain why there may be differences between how a person with HIV/AIDS might have been stigmatised in the 1980’s and how they are stigmatised post 2000. Lastly, it will look at the potential effects of stigmatization that a person from a particular risk group with HIV/AIDS living in Asia could have compared to a person from another risk group living in the UK. The two risk groups being men who have sex with men in Asia and injection drug users in the UK. The reasons for these differences will also be explored.

In addition, public labeling specifically, such as in a court room setting, tends to influence an individual in such a significant manner that the labeled individual is forced into embracing the role of the label (Thomson, 2012). In this way, the person labeled is treated as if their behavior is shameful and thereby stigmatized by the attached label (Thomson, 2012). This has a tendency to not only birth stigma and shame, but prejudices as well. Garfield’s

Erving Goffman, Ph.D is a well-known sociologist. In the early 1960’s, Goffman published Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity. The published document illustrated the lives of stigmatized individuals who are unable to conform to standards that society calls “normal”. Goffman’s other works included The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life and Asylums. Goffman primary focus was on the detailed analysis of encounters and the norms governing these encounters, therefore the evaluation of face-to-face interactions. Goffman is known studies on gestures like shaking hands or placing a hand on someone else’s shoulder and also facial expressions during interactions. These gestures were named ‘grammatical structures’ of social interactions.

Communication research on stigma issues has focused primarily on health and disability stigmas at the beginning (Agne, Thompson, and Cusella, 2000; Smith, 2007; Thompson, 2000). Also existing stigmatization researches are on occupational/workplace stigmas (Lutgen-Sandvik 2008). Interpersonal research on privacy, deviance, and

Furthermore, there are two types of people in the world—those who are stigmatized, and those who are “normal.” Goffman defines “normals” as being without stigma, and easily accepted in society. Stigma focuses on the interactions between these individuals within social settings. During these interactions, if a person’s stigma is plainly known and seen, the person may be considered discredited. There are “symbols” used during interactions that convey social information. There are both “prestige symbols” and stigma symbols, which can convey high status or identity discrepancies. Who one associates themselves with also reflects one’s social identity, conveying that individual’s social identity.

the phenomenon whereby an individual with an attribute which is deeply discredited by his/her society is rejected because of the attribute. Stigma is a process by which the reaction of others spoils normal identity.

sense of morality is achieved by the Creation of stigma and stigmatization and deviance. “Author