overstigmatization
/ˌoʊvərˌstɪɡmətəˈzeɪʃən/
Definition
The act of placing an excessive or harmful amount of social disgrace, shame, or judgment on a specific attribute or health measurement.
Etymology
The word is a combination of the prefix 'over-' (excessive), the Greek-derived 'stigma' (a mark of disgrace), and the suffix '-ization' (the process of making). It evolved in modern English to describe the sociological process of intensifying negative social labels.
In the news
In the article, the term is used to explain concerns that mandatory Body Mass Index (BMI) screenings for students can lead to unfair judgment or psychological harm regarding a student's weight. Reducing these screenings helps protect students from this unnecessary social pressure.
Pa.’s public school code puts a priority on student safety, mental health
Read the full article ↗Pennsylvania Capital-Star