Wiktionary
n. A severe social disapproval with a person on the grounds of a particular characteristic which distinguishes them from others in society, e.g. mental illness or physical disability.
Wikipedia
Social stigma refers to extreme disapproval of (or discontent with) a person or group on socially characteristic grounds that are perceived, and serve to distinguish them, from other members of a society. Stigma may then be affixed to such a person, by the greater society, who differs from their cultural norms.
Social stigma can result from the perception and judgement of mental disorder, physical disabilities, diseases such as leprosy (see leprosy stigma), illegitimacy, sexual orientation, gender identity, beliefs, values, education, nationality, ethnicity, power, wealth, occupation, class, religion, beauty, intellect or criminality. Attributes associated with social stigma often vary depending on the geopolitical and corresponding sociopolitical contexts employed by society, in different parts of the world.
According to Goffman there are three forms of social stigma:
- Overt or external deformations, such as scars, physical manifestations of anorexia nervosa, leprosy ( leprosy stigma), or of a physical disability or social disability, such as obesity.
- Deviations in personal traits, including mental disorder, drug addiction, alcoholism, and criminal background, are stigmatized in this way.
- "Tribal stigmas" are traits, (imagined or real), of ethnic group, nationality, or of religion that is deemed to be a deviation from the prevailing normative ethnicity, nationality or religion.
Usage examples of "social stigma".
For a long time past, the chief mischief of the legal penalties is that they strengthen the social stigma.
He felt keenly, as his brothers did not, the social stigma attached to those “.
It was one of Emmy's favorite topics, one that she frequently chose to bring up, especially at exclusive dinner parties where she could be sure there were plenty of philanderers present: Why was it that a man could have as many illicit affairs as he liked and suffer not the slightest social stigma, but when a woman did it, she was socially ruined?
As time went on, and the ladies discovered that it was possible to be single and survive without social stigma, more and more of them stayed single longer.
At first he had thought they were under some social stigma, for all he was ever told was that the Great Ones were outside the law.