'Clarifying', 'assuming', and 'reducing' stigma: a commentary on stigma in genetics

Thomas, Gareth M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4959-2337 2024. 'Clarifying', 'assuming', and 'reducing' stigma: a commentary on stigma in genetics. Journal of Community Genetics 10.1007/s12687-024-00765-0

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Abstract

The concept of stigma has been applied across many disciplines. Within the context of health and illness, research on stigma tells familiar stories about the impact of a diagnosis on the lives of individuals and their families, and the perceived negative effects of stigma on them and their relationships. This can result in public and private efforts to 'reduce' stigma for certain social groups by raising awareness and sharing more positive stories about their lives. As the editors of this special issue recognise, researching the 'real' or 'imagined' stigmatisation of people with genetic conditions has a long history. However, research on stigma in the context of health and illness often suffers from three shortcomings: (1) the term 'stigma' is rarely clarified; (2) stigma is frequently assumed, and; (3) approaches to reduce stigma are presumed to be simple and without tension. My intention in this commentary is not to deny the very real impact of stigma on people's lives. Instead, I set out to inform how readers across the disciplines of biomedicine, genetic counselling, sociology, anthropology, bioethics, and psychology, among others, can comprehend and further consider the use of stigma as a concept, particularly for those interested in the lives of people with genetic conditions. [Abstract copyright: © 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.]

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	In Press
Schools:	Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education)
Publisher:	Springer
ISSN:	1868-310X
Date of Acceptance:	23 December 2024
Last Modified:	16 Jan 2025 12:15
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/175323

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