Stigma vs Bias

Still the first week of Mission StigmaFree and I am humbled by everyone sharing comments, exploring their own questions, offering topics for exploration, and supporting me with resources. The learning is enlightening!

From an eye opening conversation between two individuals including the terms stigma and bias, I dove into understanding the distinction between these terms. Like many projects, one action multiplies 4-fold. I found out quickly that the distinction between bias and stigma seemed incomplete without also exploring stereotype, prejudice, and discrimination. All of these are terms I have learned about previously and usually independently. It also became apparent through a few quick searches that most available resources did not offer a comprehensive understanding of these terms in one visual.

Therefore, I created my own comprehensive visual and assembled two examples each to put the information into use. Please know, I chose these examples because they are relatable to most anyone, not because me or anyone reading this would think, feel, or act in these ways. Happy learning!

PS - For the experts out there, I am open to input and feedback on my examples.

BIAS is a lack of objectivity in thoughts, emotions, or behaviors when looking at something. The bias can be positive or negative and intentional or unintentional.                            

• EX: She has a natural bias to think, feel, and behave favorably for dog lovers over cat lovers.

• EX: She has a negative bias towards people who work from home full time.                                               

STIGMA is when someone is devalued because of thoughts, emotions, and/or behaviors towards them.

• EX: Cat lovers are stigmatized with a mark of disgrace due to stereotypes, prejudices, and discrimination.

• EX: People who work from home full-time are shamed with stereotypes, prejudices, or discrimination.                                                           

STEREOTYPES are widely held and usually fixed and oversimplified thoughts, images, or ideas of an individual, group, race, or characteristic.

• EX:  Those who are cat lovers are volatile.

• EX: People who work from home full-time are anti-social.

PREJUDICES are irrational emotions expressed towards an individual, group, race, or characteristics

• EX:  Cat lovers intimidate me!              

• EX: People who work from home full-time infuriate me.                            

DISCRIMINATION is unjust behavior towards an individual, group, race, or characteristics             

• EX:  I won’t work with a cat lover!             

• EX: I ignore people that work from home full-time.               

  #MissionStigmaFree