Work

Stigma-Handling Strategies in Everyday Life among Women aged 20 to 30 with Transversal Upper Limb Reduction Deficiency

Year: 2008

Type: article

Abstract: This grounded theory study shows an adaptation of stigma-handling strategies to situations in everyday life by women aged 20 to 30 with dysmelia, i.e. transversal upper limb reduction deficiency (TULRD). Strategies are comprehensive patterns of action aimed at controlling information about one's status as deviating from an ad hoc normality. Strategies consist of: (1) attitude (proofing/being); (2) tactic (concealing/revealing); (3) exposure (voluntary/imposed); and (4) boost (amplifying/altering). A proofing or being attitude constitutes a contextual adaptation understood in terms of a concealing or revealing tactic, aiming at delaying or promoting exposure to contextual attitudes and possible prejudices. If exposure is delayed, a person with dysmelia blends in. Exposure may be voluntary or imposed. After exposure, the relative importance of TULRD in the specific context may decrease, thus a boost of an amplification or altering of the attitude, i.e. boost is the interactional outcome enforcing the choice of strategy in another context.

Source: Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research

DOI: 10.1080/15017410801900374

Authors: Oskar Krantz, Kristian Bolin, Dennis Persson

Institution: Lund University

Language: English

Topic: Disability Rights and Representation

Subfield: Safety Research

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $576