Smashing Stigma: Dismantling Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination

by Connie Goldsmith

Overview

Stigma is everywhere around us.

People may mistrust the unhoused or discriminate against those suffering from an addiction. They may change the way they interact with someone after witnessing a panic attack from anxiety or PTSD. Or they may judge others for their appearance and their weight.

Stigma leads to harmful stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. It can keep people from seeking the help and support they need. They may internalize others’ stigma and start to blame themselves for their condition or experiences. In some cases, the effects of stigma can even be life threatening.

Even with so many examples, it can be difficult to identify stigma in real time and even harder to work against it. But learning about common types of stigma can help to reduce them. Author and registered nurse Connie Goldsmith covers six stigmatized conditions—poor mental health, addiction, homelessness, relationship abuse, PTSD, and above average weight—to help you understand what stigma looks like and how it affects real people. Discover how you can dismantle stigma and work to reduce stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781728477398
Publisher:	Lerner Publishing Group
Publication date:	09/05/2023
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	(w) x (h) x 0.52(d)
Age Range:	13 - 14 Years

About the Author

Connie Goldsmith is a registered nurse with a bachelor of science degree in nursing and a master of public administration degree in health care. She has written numerous books for YA readers and nearly two hundred magazine articles. Her recent books include Kiyo Sato: From a WWII Japanese Internment Camp to a Life of Service (2020), a Junior Library Guild selection; Running on Empty: Sleeplessness in American Teens (2021); Understanding Coronaviruses: SARS, MERS, and the COVID-19 Pandemic (2021); and Bombs Over Bikini: The World's First Nuclear Disaster (2014), a Junior Library Guild selection, a Children's Book Committee at Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year, an Association of Children's Librarians of Northern California Distinguished Book, and an SCBWI Crystal Kite Winner. She lives in Sacramento, California. Visit her website at http://www.conniegoldsmith.com/.

Editorial Reviews

"[A] clarion call for teens to address individuals as individuals and to confront their own stereotypes and prejudices."—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

2023-06-08
A guide to the many ways that some life challenges can be worsened by shaming.

Concise chapters cover six commonly stigmatized conditions: mental illness, addiction, being unhoused, relationship violence, military-related trauma, and body weight. An introductory chapter explains exactly what stigma is, how it can be overlooked, and how it relates to stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. The concluding chapter suggests ways to actively oppose each type of stigma. The author cites a wide range of ordinary people who have dealt with these situations as well as athletes, writers, celebrities, and others in the public eye. Diagrams make textual points clearer. Neutral language describes objective facts about stigma, while numerous brief narratives help convey its deeply harmful effects. The chapters provide valuable context about these situations, their impact on people’s lives, and possible avenues for treatment or solutions—heading off self-misdiagnosis and citing specific sources of expert help. The possible harms of labels and the importance of respectful language are acknowledged, as are structural societal problems like lack of affordable housing or health care access, the impact of racial bias, and how LGBTQ+ people are affected by various circumstances. Stock photos and sidebars punctuate the main text and provide additional context. This accessible overview will provide much-needed validation for some and contribute to awareness for others.

Helpfully catalogs serious problems and provides guidance on coping strategies. (trigger warning, glossary, source notes, bibliography, further information, index, photo credits) (Nonfiction. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews