The Making and Markings of Stigma (pt. I)
A discussion of Erving Goffman’s “spoiled identity”
In cities and legislatures around the county, books are being banned and laws drafted that limit discussion of American history and diversity. What’s at the heart of discrimination, and what are its effects? Erving Goffman’s 1963 Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity laid out a modern understanding of stigma, distinguishing the concept from its historical roots and exploring what “social identity” is and how it can be discredited or discreditable. Rather than viewed as something one possesses, Goffman emphasized that stigma is “a pervasive two-role social process” that must be understood in the context of relationships. This week, Leigh examines Goffman’s work in relation to recent trends.
(Photo © FreeImages/b_heyer)
To skip the intro, fast forward to the 2:24 mark.
