Sociology & Criminology for a Changing World
A social mark of disgrace that discredits individuals or groups based on perceived deviance.
Coined by Erving Goffman, stigma refers to the social process through which individuals are devalued or excluded due to attributes like criminal records, disability, poverty, or sexual behavior. Stigma can be enacted (discrimination) or felt (internalized shame) and affects access to services, legal fairness, and social inclusion.
Key to Labelling Theory, Symbolic Interactionism, and Deviance Studies.
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