The Definition of STIGMA by Erving Goffman: Mental Illness in Our Society - Essay Example

Stigma is generally associated or related with negative or obnoxious labels to highlight people that have developed some sort of mental illness in our society. Stigma is often miss read by the masses and has its roots in misinterpretation and apprehension. Majority of people tends to develop negative perceptions about persons that have mental problems; these perceptions have no solid groundings and are based upon false assumptions, myths and stereotype approach (Yang, Kleinman, Link, Phelan, Lee, and Good, 2007). Meanwhile stigma can be defined as a bulk of negative false beliefs and miss conceptions that drive people to garner or adopt attributes like avoidance, fear, rejection and discriminations towards those who are suffering from some sort of mental illness. A common practice that is carried out in our society is that people with mental illness are ignored and are socially boycotted; furthermore working with them or hiring them for doing jobs is not a common practice as these people are left alone because of their mental illness (especially those who have serious mental illness like schizophrenia) and because of the negative perception and fear that is possessed by the society based on myths and misconceptions. Consequences because of this ignorance and miss treatment of the society these persons tends to develop low self esteem, sense of ignorance and isolation and hopelessness. Moreover they further become the victims of embarrassment and shame because of the offensive attitude opted by the society towards them, as result these people hide symptoms and frequently fall short to look for treatments (Fine and Asch, 1988). However upon generalising stigma it results in fetching feelings and experiences of (Yang, Kleinman, Link, Phelan, Lee, and Good, 2007): Blame Shame Fear Hopelessness Miss representation in society, media etc Affliction Negative attitude towards help or adopting reluctant behavior. Moreover the core issues that arise because of stigma in general are highlighted below: Ignorance or lack of awareness (knowledge): generally knowledge and understanding of society is very much confined with reference to mental illness problems. Majority of information is based upon rumors, myths, perceptions and miss conceptions. As a result serious measures should be adopted in order to educate people in this regard. Prejudice approach: people that have mental illness are often miss treated by the society because of fear, misconceptions and lack of knowledge. As a result these sufferers confine and restrict themselves by imposing or adopting the form of self stigma (internalised stigma) which further handicap their confidence or results in further worsening their conditions. Discrimination (obnoxious behavior): discrimination should be avoided in order to ameliorate the mental condition of the sufferers. The victims should be treated on equal basis and should not be treated differently as differentiation will further worsen the condition and tends to drive these people towards social exclusion. Therefore the people with mental illness should be given equal rights with reference to housing, education, jobs and other facilities (Darity Jr. and Mason, 1998). Unfortunately at present human race is not able to completely analyse brain with reference to its working, still many aspects are to be explored in order to gain complete understanding of brain. However there is no denying of the fact that brain is also an important organ, but serious question comes in one’s minds that why people fail to develop understanding and accepting disorders of brain like other organs disorders? (Davine, 2005). SOCIAL EXCLUSION: The term social exclusion first came into existence in France (1970) as highlighted by Evans, Paugham and Prelis (1995). Albeit social exclusion is amongst the most discussed concept in Europe with reference to carrying out social policy debates, but still there is no clear picture about the exact meaning of this phenomenon. As often many researchers have used the words unemployment and poverty as an alternate of social exclusion (Regional Studies Conference, 1997), however in order to completely garner understanding of the term Social exclusion it is mandatory to differentiate the concept of social exclusion with unemployment and poverty (Klasen, n.d). There are various numbers of definitions present for social exclusion, for instance social exclusion according to the DFID (Department for International Development) is a process according to which specifics groups are targeted methodically because of the discrimination factor. This discrimination further lead towards disadvantaging the target groups, this discrimination is usually based upon religion, ethnicity, caste, gender, age, disability and migration etc. moreover these discriminations usually came into play in public institutions like education, health and fitness services, rules and regulations (laws) and several other important institutions like household etc (DFID, 2005). Similarly Duffy (1995) defined social exclusion as lack of opportunity (availability) or powerlessness in terms of successfully contributing in cultural, social and economic life, and in much distinctiveness, isolating and creating aloofness with the core group or society. Generally social exclusion is applied on groups that one way or other comprises exclusion of persons because of discrimination based upon racial, religion, ethnic, gender, social and other distinctiveness. Likewise upon considering social exclusion from diverse perceptive, various other aspects are also important for instance the victim group or the excluded group is excluded from what kind of necessities e.g. citizenships, employment opportunities, education, healthcare etc (Khan, 2012). Social practices and attitudes that result in exclusion: Kabeer (2000) highlighted three core social practices and attitudes that are the driving factor or that can lead towards exclusion of groups or individuals. Moreover these practices or actions are deliberate or unintentional, conscious or unconscious, planned or unplanned, these are: 1. enlistment of institutional prejudice: This social practice deals with the idea of core rules, regulations, beliefs, customs and procedures that are followed or are in practice by society (systematically) in order to provide benefits to a particular individuals, groups or societies at the cost of other group. 2. Social shutting: This social practice or attitude deals with the ability of maximising rewards for a specific group of eligible persons by confining and curbing access of possessions (resources) and opportunities. This further garner evidence of cartel, openings based on actions (characteristics) of groups, like race, social origin, mother tongue, religion etc. moreover state is also responsible for exclusion by crafting and devising laws that fall under the category of exclusion. Likewise society is also responsible in many ways as there are systems that one way or other defines or explain the position of the individuals with reference to their heredity 3. rowdy practices: This attitude deals with the breach that is present in between rules and their successful implementation. Organisations informally perform exclusion especially when differences are based as per the prejudices in the system especially in public sectors; workers are classified according to their positions. As a result formally structuring some sort of discriminations through institutionalisations. The different spaces of social exclusion: It is believed that social exclusion can occur in various different places, for instance can occur in institutions that are working within the states, it may occur in the market and it may exist in the family or in the community. In general denial or confining access to the individuals or communities with reference to performing work, giving equal opportunities and many other factors can result in exclusion of the individuals (Khan, 2012). 1. Power relations: Gaventa (2006) highlighted that exclusion may result from the power relations that structure these spaces. He further added that relationships under the umbrella of power relations assist to structure the borders of spaces (participatory), working under the principle of possibilities that exist within the relations, and deals with the entrance with respect to different identities , interests and communication. 2. Structural discrimination: Structural discrimination is another reason that results in exclusion of the individuals or societies. As exclusion occurs specifically where individuals or societies rights are ignored or excluded by the powerful or the dominant society, confining their participation in terms of social, political and economic livings. This discrimination may perpetuate, enforce or can be seen from practices of institutions or the norms and values carried out in the societies. Likewise it may also have unseen impacts especially in places where values and ideas of individuals or groups are affected by the self observations of the people that are excluded and their competences with reference to declaring their rights. However one possible way that can result in correcting or altering structural discrimination is to adopt policies or to engrave practices that did not directly or indirectly target discrimination or that are not based on discriminations. For instance institutions should practice or craft policies that highlight non discrimination, empowerment and inclusion towards the neglected or discriminated societies or individuals (groups) (Khan, 2012). LINKS BETWEEN SOCIAL EXCLUSION AND POVERTY (CONCEPTUAL LINK): It is believed that socially excluded people at times are also poor provided if poverty is explained through different number of ways. Meanwhile differences in the poverty and social exclusion do exist upon considering variety of concepts related to poverty and social exclusion. For instance in a particular society masses may be victim of poverty but it does not testify that these people are socially excluded as well. Similarly another important difference of concept is that since social exclusion directly deals with attributes like inequality and deprivation, on the other hand concept of poverty does not require these attribute specifically. Likewise social exclusion strongly endorses the different practices and processes that are performed by institutions and actors in order to exclude specific group from the society whereas poverty in this regard is total different (Silver, 2007). THE LINKS BETWEEN SOCIAL EXCLUSION AND INEQUALITY: There are various numbers of researchers that highlighted that social exclusion and inequality are closely associated. For instance societies that are working on the basis of inequalities towards specific group can often leads towards exclusion of this group. Similarly upon considering social exclusion it includes inequalities. Inequalities that are based on targeting individuals are also known as horizontal inequalities, on the other hand inequalities based on targeting groups or societies are called vertical inequalities which further garner evidence towards exclusion. However social exclusion and horizontal inequalities have multidimensional attributes which directly or indirectly results in exclusion via political, social, and economic means. Meanwhile horizontal inequalities are not usually very much severe, as these inequalities do not have very much potential towards creating situation of exclusion (Stewart, 2004). THE LINK BETWEEN SOCIAL EXCLUSION AND CONFLICTS (INSECURITIES): With reference to grounds and consequences social exclusion can in many ways be related to conflicts (insecurities). Various researches have highlighted the fact that individuals or societies that are victim of exclusion, may engrave serious insecurities or conflicts. This conflict can further create instabilities in the society through civil unrest and can also result in creating unrest in the society by enforcing violence and terrorist activities. As the neglected class or community may form a group based on religion, ethnic background or any other reason and can stand against the government in pursuit of their rights (Kanbur, 2007). LINK BETWEEN GLOBALISATION AND SOCIAL EXCLUSIONS: Globalisation can also result in exclusion of the society or group as highlighted by various different researchers. Since globalisation resulted in bringing enormous changes in almost every walk of life, especially it transformed businesses. Various innovations and different approaches are considered by businesses these days in order to meet their requirements. However upon considering the production businesses, these days a common practice that businesses are carrying in order to save their time and money is outsourcing. This as a result also leads towards the concept of exclusion as many people develop sense of exclusion because of this action. Moreover new business practices also at times are involved in enhancing and engraving poverty and inequality. Furthermore it is not always mandatory that globalisation has only negative effect on exclusion, for instance according to the recent reports of World Bank, globalisation has resulted in benefiting the excluded group especially women by succinctly focusing and targeting the concept of gender equality (Beall, 2002). LINK BETWEEN UNEMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION: Employment is considered to be the main asset that can confine social exclusion as highlighted by the report of European Council (2000, 2002), this report is further testified by Tsaklogou and Popadopoulos (2001) as they carried out researched on the social exclusion with reference to employment by analysing and using the data of European community household panel in order to come up with the final verdicts. Their findings revealed that in almost all countries of the world, the countries where link between individuals and labor markets are strong, there are less chances of social exclusion present in these countries. On the other hand countries that have low bondage between labor markets and individuals chances of social exclusion are high (Twena and Aaheim, 2005). Meanwhile Atkinson (1998) highlighted that the extent to which unemployment is related with social exclusion is also dependent upon one core reason i.e. what the reason of unemployment is. He further added that employment opportunities will only confine exclusion provided if these opportunities garner sense of control plus offers promising future growth. However Gallie and Paugam (2002) further endorsed the view of Atkinson by highlighting the core determinants that should be present in the job excellence are effective participation in the decision making and learning ability (Twena and Aaheim, 2005). GOFFMAN’S DEFINITION OF STIGMA: According to the definition of STIGMA by Erving Goffman, it is the situation of an individual that he faces because of the negligence by the society or because of confining or disqualifying that particular individual with reference to his full acceptance (social) by the society or group of people (Goffman, 1968). Or in other words it is a process according to which identity of a person get spoils because of the reactions opted by other members of the society towards him (Kusow, 2004). However upon considering the broader definition of social stigma it is a perception of the masses that may be based upon characteristics of wrongness and rightness, with reference to the diseases or mental illness, physical disabilities, gender differences, sexual orientations, nationality, ethnic or religious basis (Kusow, 2004). Meanwhile given below are the three forms of social stigma as highlighted by Goffman, these are (Goffman, 1968): 1. Abominations of the body: the first form of stigma that deals with the presence of physical disabilities or diseases in the body, like having scars, handicapped, HIV, or even obesity (Link and Phelan, 2001). 2. Blemishes (deviants) of individual character: this type of stigma includes traits in individual personality that include mental disorders or illness, addiction of some sort of drugs, drinking, criminal backgrounds, homosexuality, unemployment and attribute of radical political behaviors (Link and Phelan, 2001). 3. Tribal stigma: tribal stigma is considered to be having traits that can be imaginary or real. For instance ethnic group, nationality, religion etc are the types or categories where tribal stigma can perpetuate (Link and Phelan, 2001). BASIS THAT PEOPLE ARE SOCIALLY EXCLUDED: There are several numbers of reasons or basis that people can be socially excluded, these are Economic exclusion: deals with confining opportunities with reference to the economic development of the individual or the society that are victims of this exclusion. For instance lack of access towards workforce or labor markets etc. or lack of employment opportunities (Justino and Litchfield, 2005). Political exclusion: this kind of exclusion can be considered to set active when individuals or groups are confined with reference to their effective political participation, lack of secure environment etc and various other political aspects (Tilly, 2007). Social exclusion: this type of exclusion can be done through variety of different channels or mediums for instance, age, gender, religion, ethnic background are some of the reasons that people faced discriminations or are excluded from the society (Bhalla and Lapeyre, 1997). Cultural exclusion: deals with the ability of understanding the differences and respecting those differences with reference to culture (Langer and Brown, 2007). Religion: another core reason or factor that is responsible for social exclusion is religion. As discriminations based on differences in religion are common practices opted by various societies and countries today (Bhargava, 2004). Gender: gender differences also contribute towards social exclusions. For instance power sharing with women is not the common practice in many countries (Morrisson and Jutting, 2005). Mental illness or disabilities: victims of social exclusions often have disabilities or mental illness. Therefore people because of having disabilities or mental illness has more exposure towards social exclusion. Besides the above mentioned causes or reasons there are several more as well like, age, migration etc (Khan, 2012). ROLE OF MEDIA: Many believe that media is playing role of a villain in terms of displaying people that are sufferers of Stigma or that are socially excluded. However the first and foremost negativity that media creates for mental illness persons is portraying their negative image towards the masses. In various movies, dramas and news media blame the person with a malfunction in brain to be danger to the society. Moreover with reference to social exclusion media at times displays content that is not within the approach of the masses as a result creates negative impacts on society are garnered. Through negative advertisements a demand is crafted in the society which most of the times is not within the social and cultural values of the society. However media should try to play role of a hero rather than a villain. By displaying contents and highlighting the issues are responsible for social exclusion. Media should educate masses with respect to the ill form perceptions that most societies have and try to spread the message of love and harmony. And should avoid discrimination based on culture religion and other ethical value. Moreover lesson of equality should be promoted by media. However if there are any institutions or societies that are using power in order to deprive other societies, media should highlight these issues and bring in attention of the concern departments so that proper action is taken. Furthermore corruption should be unveiled and equality of justice should be made available for all the masses irrespective of the color, caste, religion or ethnic background people may have. IMPLICATION OF POLICY AND PRACTICE: There are number of ways that societies can practice in order to confine or restrict social exclusions. Given below are some of the main policy instruments that if applied properly can provide various number of benefits, these are: Enhanced Donor approaches: according to the DFID’S (2005) (policy paper on social exclusion), social exclusion can be confined provided enhanced role is played by donors, government and civil society. Moreover these donors should draft and craft policies and should consider inclusion while defining policies and making plans for the societies. Cross cutting processes: social policies can make or break things with reference to social exclusion of the particular group or individuals. Many countries around the world are now endorsing social policies that does not have discrimination factor involve in them. As a result social exclusion can very much confine by adopting practices and by making legislations that does not involve any discrimination (Tomasevski, 2005). Affirmative Actions: if policies are made considering the affirmative action than social exclusions can be avoided. For instance by giving equal or fair representation to the minorities or neglected class in politics, education, employment and various other social activities then social exclusion can very much be restricted (Khan, 2012). Participation: there are number of different strategies that are directed towards enhancing and ameliorating citizen participation in decision making processes especially with reference to political decision making in order to cope up with the issues related to social exclusion (Haider, 2008). Inclusive growth: the policy that is adopted by various countries in order to provide more employment opportunities without making discrimination in the masses. Or the policy that deals with providing equal employment opportunities and confining the concept of social exclusion by practically enforcing the concept of inclusive growth. For this reason huge importance has been given to inclusive growth by different policy makers (DFID, 2009). Service provisions: individual or groups that are facing exclusion often are receiving lack of services, or poor quality of services. As a result their abilities to get benefit from the system are restricted or limited because of discrimination. These services may include educational services, health services, and employment opportunities (Khan, 2012). Social protection: social protection is considered to be one of the core activities that can very much control social exclusions and also can muzzle poverty provided its application is timely and well crafted. Many developing countries are now taking serious measures in order to provide social protection to the excluded groups. Besides various NGOs specifically United Nations is very much playing its role in terms of providing assistance in this regard and where there is discrimination, raising their voices as well (Carroll, 2011). List of References Atkinson, A.B. (1998). Exclusion, Employment and Opportunity, Working Paper No. 4. London School of Economics: Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion. Beall J. (2002). Globalisation and Social Exclusion in Cities: Framing the Debate with Lessons from Africa and Asia. Environment and Urbanization, vol. 14, no. 1, pp 41-51. 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Available from http://www.cicero.uio.no/media/3493.pdf [Accessed 23 December 2012] Yang, L., Kleinman, A. Link, B., Phelan, J., Lee, S., and Good, B. (2007). Culture and Stigma: adding moral experience to stigma theory. Social Science and Medicine, vol. 64, no. 7, pp. 1524-1535 Read More