Two kinds of stigmas persist in the transitions following life and work changes. These are medical stigmas and social stigmas.
Medical stigmas may include
• AIDS
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Cancer
• Dementia
• Diabetes
• Juvenile arthritis
• Multiple sclerosis
• Any condition or disease that is misunderstood
When Ronald Reagan was serving his second term as president, he suffered from memory impairment. The stigma associated with Alzheimer’s disease caused him, his family, and staff to keep it quiet but this silence also reinforced the stigma associated with memory loss. It kept this disease from being discussed publicly and may have interfered with or delayed important progressive research and funding.
When AIDS was first diagnosed in the early 1980s, many suffered in silence. Because the disease was mostly associated with the gay community, the societal stigma was great. Unfortunately, it took years to address the seriousness of AIDS and the need for more research and funding for effective treatment and a cure.
When my mother was diagnosed with cancer in the late 1960s, there were few cures and very limited treatments. It was considered a death sentence. Our family called it CA because no one wanted to say the word cancer. Today, families, medical professionals, and patients are finally able to talk more openly about cancer. As a result, the stigma has been removed. There is more public awareness and more funding and cancer research, leading to more remissions and more cures. Today, many are living successful and fulfilling lives with this disease.
Social stigmas may include
• Discrimination
• Divorce
• Hate crimes
• Job loss
• Rape
• Sexual harassment
• Any circumstance that is out-of-the-ordinary
After suffering in silence for generations, women are finding their voice around sexual abuse and sexual harassment. The shame and embarrassment associated with rape no longer silences women. They are finding the courage to come forward about sexual transgressions they have personally experienced, perhaps years after the fact.
In the past, women were too afraid to reveal their experience because of the shame and fear of not being believed. This is also true of children who have been abused and sexually violated. Many are being heard, believed, and are able to transition to health after sharing the trauma and getting the help they need and deserve.
The work place has its own stigmas. As companies merge, move locations, or reorganize their staff, many confident and seasoned employees are laid off. It used to be that was an embarrassment. Those being let go felt a loss of confidence and self-esteem. Little help or support was available as employees tried to find another job or cope with an early retirement they weren’t yet prepared for.
Today, there is more sensitivity to layoffs. Support systems are in place to help people re-career. With the advent of LinkedIn and some of the career sites, potential employees are transparent about being in the queue for finding another position and, in some cases, a better position. Making it public and communicating through social media about your employability is the norm. Speaking up makes this transition easier and removes the stigma.
Face life and work transitions with confidence! Let life and work transitions author, speaker, and coach Dee Cascio show you how.