- 3 of 7 - Structural Stigma
For the investigation of structural stigma (stigma category 3 of 7), I researched the intersection of health literacy and structural stigma. Both play critical roles in determining individual health and wellness outcomes. People with limited health literacy may struggle to understand medical information and those facing structural stigma may encounter discriminatory practices. Addressing barriers often requires a multi-pronged approach that includes improving health literacy while combating structural stigma through healthcare system changes. The following are barriers both health literacy and structural stigma face:
Limited access to quality Care.
Health Disparities based on factors such as race, gender, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status.
Challenges with effective communication of health concerns.
Lack of understanding health information.
Structural Stigma refers to an institutional system where people that work for that institution may not have a bias against you, but the policies, procedures, or other components of the system put you at a disadvantage. To be clear, it is NOT a result of individual prejudice or discrimination, but the societal norms, stereotypes, assumptions, and practices are creating situations that discriminate against a group of people based on characteristics, such as race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or socioeconomic status.
Unfortunately, there are many examples existing today that illustrate structural stigma. I found a few of them particularly insightful or egregious and highlight them here for awareness:
Gender Wage Gap: Despite equal qualifications and work experience, many company recruitment policies and procedures perpetuate biased societal expectations about women’s roles and pay. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, from 2002 to 2022, women earned ~80% on average compared to male counterpart earnings. This wage gap has narrowed considerably over the past century, but in recent decades has made very little progress overall and is a wider gap for women of color.
Socioeconomic Disparities in Education: Insufficient funding, lack of resources, and poor teacher training in low-income schools are systematic examples that contribute to the gap between lower-income and higher-income students. These types of structural disadvantages perpetuate cycles of poverty.
Ableism in Accessibility: Note – if ableism is a newer term for you, think of it as one term to say, “discrimination against people with disabilities.” Structural stigma related to accessibility is most visible in building designs, transportation systems, and websites which may not be designed with the needs of people with disabilities in mind. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the unemployment rates for persons with a disability (7.6%) is double that of persons without a disability (3.5%).
Discover more about structural stigma by reading my summary of findings. And, if you are just coming across my Stigma Free journey and want to see what you missed since August, check out #MissionStigmaFree. Enjoy!