Impact of Stigma on the Self-Identity of Disabled Persons

NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.

NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Defining Stigmatization
Impact of Stigma on Self-Identity
Conclusion
Reference List

Introduction

Intellectual or physical disability can significantly impede the life of diagnosed persons. Receiving such a diagnosis is not strictly limited to health consequences but can also lead to certain social, emotional, and practical repercussions. Navigating life with any type of disability diagnosis is challenging and can substantially impact the mental health and well-being of the individuals afflicted with it. Moreover, it is often accompanied by the social stigma that adds to the emotional distress experienced by the diagnosed patients. This essay aims to examine the long-term impact of stigmatization on the self-identity of disabled persons and argue that social comparisons are the primary reason for internalized stigma and negative self-perception.

Defining Stigmatization

Stigma is something that people with disabilities experience on an everyday basis, and it can have a drastic effect on their emotional and psychological well-being and the way they identify themselves. It can be defined as a social construct that recognizes a person or a group for the differences they exhibit and assigns negative values to those individuals (Silván-Ferrero et al., 2019). According to Rochford, Quinn, and Farren (2018, p. 35), stigma can also be characterized as “stereotyping and belief in prejudiced attitudes towards particular people and groups.” Furthermore, it can include the experience of rejection through the establishment of segregated services for a certain group (O’Byrne and Muldoon, 2017). Although it may seem more efficient to provide individuals with disabilities, especially severe ones, with separate services and education focused solely on them, it can add to the stigmatization they already experience. Furthermore, it can reinforce prejudices against the group as their peers have little opportunity to interact with them. Overall, people diagnosed with an intellectual or physical disability are often stigmatized in their everyday lives and can become targets for bullying and victimization.

People with disabilities are more likely to experience discrimination compared to their counterparts without one. According to Banks et al. (2018), 15 percent of individuals diagnosed with intellectual or physical issues experience discrimination compared to 11 percent of those without such a diagnosis. Furthermore, biased attitudes are more likely to have a serious impact on them (Banks et al., 2018). Research shows that discrimination often occurs at financial and healthcare organizations, in public places, and when applying for a job as well as at their place of work (Banks et al., 2018). Prejudice also arises when using public services and in educational settings (Banks et al., 2018). From this information, it can be asserted that disabled people experience stigmatization in most areas of their life. Therefore, it can be argued that these daily encounters have a substantial impact on their self-identity.

Impact of Stigma on Self-Identity

Discrimination and prejudice significantly influence how people with disabilities perceive and identify themselves. Continuous exposure to biased attitudes can lead to the development of internalized stigma. This phenomenon can be described as “the acceptance of stigma by a stigmatized person as part of the person’s system of values and self-concept” (Silván-Ferrero et al., 2019, p. 1). Internalized stigma is negatively associated with the quality of life of the affected persons and their emotional and psychological well-being (Silván-Ferrero et al., 2019). Exposure to long-term discrimination can lead to people with disabilities adopting the views of those who stigmatize them and impact different areas of their life, including work, studies, and relationships with friends and family.

When discussing discrimination and internalized stigma, it is imperative to consider those phenomena within the social comparison theory framework. The theory offers an explicit explanation of why stigmatized groups adopt the views and values of those who discriminate against them and how it impacts their self-identity. The theory states that people compare themselves to others “as a basis for self-evaluation” (O’Byrne and Muldoon, 2017, p. 308). These comparisons are used to validate various aspects of self and considerably influence self-evaluation, self-perception, and, as a result, self-identity. Disabled persons also engage in evaluating themselves based on comparisons to others. Although such comparisons do not always lead to a poor sense of self-worth and a negative self-identity, some individuals are more vulnerable to stigmatization. Furthermore, the effect of such comparisons considerably depends on the setting of comparison. Thus, evaluating oneself in a group of equally abled people does not have the same impact as a comparison to a group of persons whose abilities are either significantly higher or lower. Overall, social comparisons theory helps to explain why some individuals may develop a negative self-perception.

Disabled persons exposed to long-term discrimination are often unable to protect their self-perception from the views and values of others and develop an internalized stigma. The social context of continuous prejudiced attitudes impedes stigmatized individuals’ ability to utilize self-protective strategies (O’Byrne and Muldoon, 2017). If there are no additional supports available for vulnerable groups, stigma can significantly alter their self-identity. According to O’Connor et al. (2018), young people diagnosed with mental health disorders typically compare themselves negatively to their peers and internalize the stigma in a victimizing social setting. Similarly, O’Byrne and Muldoon (2017) note that people diagnosed with intellectual disabilities and exposed to bias are more likely to have fewer favorable comparisons to others. It can be determined that exposure to everyday stigma can lead to the adoption of a destructive self-identity, perceiving themselves negatively due to their diagnosis.

Furthermore, it can be argued that the social setting in which an individual is stigmatized affects what aspects of self-identity are impacted by the experienced bias. For example, if a disabled person is bullied at work, they are more likely to adopt the self-identity of a less productive worker, believing that they are not capable of achieving more at their job. Likewise, if a student with a disability is discriminated against at school, they are less likely to pursue higher education, believing they will not match their peers. The last example is supported by research that illustrates that educational attainment among disabled individuals is lower than among the general population (Banks et al., 2018). Overall, adopting a negative self-identity based on the stigmatizing opinions of others can significantly affect the life and well-being of people with intellectual or physical problems.

Conclusion

Overall, disabled persons are more likely to be exposed to stigma and discrimination than their counterparts. Furthermore, they experience bias and prejudiced attitudes in most areas of their life, including healthcare, financial, and educational settings. As most people consider their comparisons to others as the basis for self-evaluation, disabled individuals are more likely to have unfavorable comparisons to others, especially when experiencing everyday stigma. A prolonged experience of discrimination can lead to a stigmatized group member internalizing the stigma and adopting the negative perceptions of themselves. Overall, this unfavorable perspective can affect their self-identity and prevent them from leading productive life.

Reference List

Banks, J. et al. (2018) Disability and Discrimination in Ireland: Evidence from the QNHS Equality Modules 2004, 2010, 2014. Dublin: Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, pp. 1-73. Web.

O’Byrne, C. and Muldoon, O. (2017) ‘Stigma, self-perception and social comparisons in young people with an intellectual disability’, Irish Educational Studies, 36(3), pp. 307-322. Web.

O’Connor, C. et al. (2018) ‘How does psychiatric diagnosis affect young people’s self-concept and social identity? A systematic review and synthesis of the qualitative literature’, Social Science & Medicine, 212, pp. 94-119. Web.

Rochford, S., Quinn, D. and Farren, N. (2018) Youth mental health in Ireland and Northern Ireland – An access evidence literature review. Dublin: The Centre for Effective Services, pp. 1-79. Web.

Silván-Ferrero, P. et al. (2019) ‘Psychological quality of life in people with physical disability: The effect of internalized stigma, collective action and resilience’, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(5), pp. 1-15. Web.

Click Here To Order Now!

Impact of Stigma on the Self-Identity of Disabled Persons

Do you need this or any other assignment done for you from scratch?

We have qualified writers to help you.

We assure you a quality paper that is 100% free from plagiarism and AI.

You can choose either format of your choice ( Apa, Mla, Havard, Chicago, or any other)