Social Stigma Research Paper
Bipolar Disorder as a Social Stigma A stigma can have many different meanings, but in sociology, a stigma is a concept in which someone is perceived as “different,” usually in a negative manner. Every person has some type of stigma that separates them from the rest of society. There are three types of stigmas: abominations of the body, blemishes of character, and a tribal stigma. Abomination of the body is a physical stigma that can be seen with the eye, while blemishes of character is a flaw someone has within them, usually having to do with one’s personality. Lastly, a tribal stigma are traits that a specific ethnic group, religion, or nationality has that is abnormal from the others. However, I will be talking about a specific stigma that I obtain and how it affects my daily life; this stigma falls into the blemishes of character category. I have personal experience with the stigma, bipolar disorder. Both my parents and myself have been diagnosed with this disorder. Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that brings severe high and low moods and changes in sleep, energy, thinking, and behavior. In other words, you can be overly happy one minute then have periods of being extremely angry or sad. People tend to misinterpret this illness in many ways (uncertainty of definitions).
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I tend to get extra attention from my grandparents because they know I have not always been the most happy child. Also, my parents do not expect me to get perfect grades due to the stress I put myself through. People also tend to be super nice to me knowing that I will get very angry, very fast if they say something upsetting. I guess someone could say I get a little special treatment, but only from the people who know I am bipolar and how it affects me. Being bipolar has also helped me to scare people, so no one wants to mess with me or take advantage of me (my niceness or
I tend to get extra attention from my grandparents because they know I have not always been the most happy child. Also, my parents do not expect me to get perfect grades due to the stress I put myself through. People also tend to be super nice to me knowing that I will get very angry, very fast if they say something upsetting. I guess someone could say I get a little special treatment, but only from the people who know I am bipolar and how it affects me. Being bipolar has also helped me to scare people, so no one wants to mess with me or take advantage of me (my niceness or