Stigma and Society
During the past month in Malawi, I have had the opportunity to talk with incredible people, locals and expats. All working on different programs and projects, to hear their expertise and knowledge flow has been captivating. You can see the range of emotions flash in their face and their words as they speak about their passions. Passions ranging from environmental issues to health to education; you get see the connections of other programs and projects as they speak. Their understanding of cultural perspectives as they relate to different issues, you try to understand and learn from their experiences. The discussions helps to develop a mental picture of what is being done and how to try to identify gaps.
Whenever I engage with someone regarding a certain project, I think often about what is the stigma and how the stigmatization of something is limiting the overall impact of that project. The more I think about stigma, the more I realize I do not fully understand it. The way a society is structured helps build and solidify the stigma of something. There is this need to view something negatively especially when it is viewed as something that blemishes a society. But the stigmatization does not happen right away, it is a buildup of small and relatively minor things that snowballs and envelops a society. When certain individuals try to identify the problem earlier on, they are often viewed as making an issue of nothing, thus the issue manifests and builds. To the point where society would feel it is okay to stigmatize something, the shame of being viewed as different from society builds.
The stigma that builds is not due to an individual, it is due to the societal structure. Every community and society has their own views of things that are viewed negatively. Trying to rectify that issue can be viewed as challenging societal structure and culture. The stigma is build and then perpetuated by those with power on to those without power. Then once it is established and integrated in a society, it becomes harder to challenge and fight.
The laws (communal and national), the policies that are advocated, the religion practiced, and other institutional structures tend to be constructed in a way to delegitimize and stigmatize individuals and groups. When running a workshop on body mapping, an innovative art therapy program, for participants affected by HIV, I asked a question about stigmatization and how it has affected their lives.
One participant said a major issue was the way HIV was initially discussed. They indicated that when the earliest message regarding HIV was communicated, it was communicated as “AIDS kills”. That message stuck and has affected their family members, friends, and community. There was no message of hope, or understanding that with the right treatment, one can continue to live a normal life. Instead that message of “AIDS kills” was carried out, connected to religious institutions saying those that are diagnosed with the illness are sinners or they are promiscuous.
The promiscuity and the label of being a sinner impacted women the most. The already vulnerable population became even more vulnerable by the societal structure that they have come to rely on. It is true that times have changed, the messaging of HIV/AIDS has changed, and the level of stigmatization has changed but yet it still exists. As the messaging has changed, you can see the strength in the vulnerable population.
The fight for dignity, the fight to be recognized, the fight to be appreciated. The same institutions that helped create and solidify stigma, are now working to cut down stigma. Societal structures need to be open and not prevent individuals to participate. It is problematic that in order to be viewed as normal and accepted by society, you have to hide your “weakness”. The work to end stigmatization in all forms is an ongoing one, and with every discussion I learn.