stigmatizasyondan

Stigmatizasyondan refers to the social process by which individuals or groups are devalued, discredited, or excluded based on perceived differences such as health status, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or criminal history. The term emphasizes the dynamic of labeling and stereotyping that leads to social exclusion.

Stigmatizasyondan involves labeling, negative stereotyping, social separation, and status loss, reinforced by power imbalances. It differs from discrimination, which is the concrete behavior; stigma is the belief or attitude that can drive discriminatory action. Internalized stigma or self-stigma occurs when individuals adopt negative beliefs about themselves.

Stigmatizasyondan can occur in everyday life, workplaces, schools, media, and institutions. It contributes to barriers in healthcare, education, housing, and employment, and is linked to poorer mental health outcomes, reduced treatment adherence, and social isolation. Certain conditions, such as mental illness, substance use, HIV, or obesity, are commonly stigmatized, though stigma also targets racial, ethnic, and religious groups or marginalized communities.

Efforts to reduce stigmatizasyondan include contact-based interventions that foster positive interactions, education to correct myths, inclusive language, and policies that protect rights and promote equal access. Media representation, community empowerment, and supportive services can mitigate stigma and its harms.

In Turkish discourse, the concept is often referred to as stigmatizasyon, and stigmatizasyondan serves as the ablative form meaning “from stigmatization.”