meaningsstigma

Meaningsstigma is a term in sociology describing stigma that arises from the meanings others attach to a person, group, or object, not from observable traits or actions alone. It emphasizes interpretive processes in culture and discourse: symbols, language, and narratives render certain identities or practices as devalued. The concept draws on symbolic interactionism and labeling theory and helps explain how stigma can emerge even when the targeted attribute is neutral or ambiguous.

Meaningsstigma often operates in politics, religion, media, and online communities, where charged meanings are attached to identities, symbols, or affiliations. A neutral behavior may become stigmatized if it is interpreted as signaling disfavored values, or if it is framed by influential discourse. Conversely, stigmatized meanings can be challenged through counter-discourse or shifts in institutional framing.

Research on meaningsstigma uses discourse analysis of media and political rhetoric, content analysis of platforms, and experiments with vignettes that manipulate the meaning attributed to a target. The concept highlights power dynamics, since dominant groups largely determine which meanings are stigmatized.

Critics argue that the term risks conflating meaning with harm or action and warn of definitional ambiguity. Proponents note its utility for analyzing how stigma can arise from interpretation rather than from visible characteristics.