Sticky stigmas

We’re arguably less beholden to societal stigmas than at any point in human history.

Barely a week goes by without some stigma being declared overcome or broken. Everything from therapy to redundancy to sobriety have been lauded as topics that were once taboo and can now be openly and proudly discussed.  

This is a natural outcome of online culture and social media, where openness and authenticity increasingly equals likes and follows. We’re essentially incentivised to smash stigmas, rewarded with precious engagement metrics and the associated dopamine hit.

Despite this, many stigmas persist. 

Financial hardship, for example, remains a difficult topic for many, with 75% of zoomers admitting to lying, hiding or exaggerating details about their personal finances. Antinatalism also continues to bring judgement, despite new parents turning up to every social occasion looking as though they’ve just returned from a particularly long and arduous war.

Healthcare is the most common and arguably most dangerous home for stigma, with recent warnings around hearing loss and adolescent contraceptive care the tip of the iceberg.

These are all, of course, stigmas we’d be better off without. But that isn’t a universal rule. 

Autocrats and far-right leaders are normalising things that were once rightfully associated with societal shame. 

Russia is trying to bring back the concept of winning land through war, something that has been considered unpalatable since WWII. A deluge of activity that has become impossible to track has meant the normalisation of authoritarianism in the US is a real possibility. Marches in Australia and the UK sought to break the hard won stigma around racism.

Plenty of societal norms are there to be broken, often for the benefit of the underrepresented and unheard. But others must be preserved. Some things should stay stigmatised.