Stigma and Identity

Abstract

Th e word “stigma” and its original meaning have their origins in ancient
Greece. For them, the term was meant for the mark on the body, which pointed
to some shortcomings of personality that was characterized by it. Stigma is referred
to a situation in which an individual is not fully accepted by society. Th e
book Stigma (Erving Goff man) explores the relationship when the stigmatized
and the normal people are in the same social situation, ie. when they are geared
to one another, either through conversation or meeting or are only found in the
same particular situation. Erving Goff man seeks to explain in this book the
position of stigmatized people in society, citing the examples of people who are
in any way rejected in society. Th e term stigma is used to indicate a feature that
is deeply discrediting.