Stigmatization is one very bad rapidly accepted practice in our society today, certain categories of people are being looked down upon due to certain illnesses, characteristics or conditions which is most likely beyond their control, it's insane how these practices of looking down upon a group or certain individual due to things they can't control is now looking like a new normal, not minding the effect they take on the victim.
We've heard cases of how certain people lost their lives due to depression, or some even go as far as committing suicide, not because of what they were going through but because of the judgment through stigmatization the society place on them.
Stigmatization is bad, before you judge someone, look at yourself and see if you are so perfect, put yourself in the shoes of those you make feel unworthy to live and mingle in society freely like you, and assume they are your family members, not neglecting the fact that some people still commit these bad on their families, it is high time we become aware and know where to draw the line.
I've never been a victim of stigmatization though, already, I know who I am and can't let anybody look down on me no matter what I face, because I believe in hope as long as there is life. Sadly, I've witnessed people display this preposterous act on their fellow humans, and trust me it wasn't a pleasant day watching this unfold.
I recently became a part of an all-women organization, more like a cooperative that helps women become better helpmates to their husbands, and better care and support givers to their family and society at large, indeed a good organization with good aim but one act by them made me skeptical about continuing with them, their view on single mums, especially a divorcee is least what I expected of them, the way they stigmatize women who probably left an abusive marriage to save and improve their lives, I thought these women will do better to uphold and stand by women who made this most difficult decision to walk away for whatever reason.
Just last month, the president seat was made vacant and we needed a new leader to take over, normally two to four nominees are usually selected, after showing interest, but the moment one of us who is a single mum of three, was married for 11 years but had to exit her toxic marriage showed interest, only for some of the women to rule out her as being a candidate to be nominated, according to them, a divorcee is not fit to be a women leader, I imagined myself being that woman at that point, of course, I would have wished for the ground to open and swallow me, life happens, and that didn't make her a less woman than any of us, even those against her might be suffering and smiling in a toxic marriage with no confidence to walk away, and it's most likely those types that marriage ends them.
As at the two last meetings, the single mum was absent, I recently called her and she confided in me how bad they made her feel, killing the confidence and goals she had wanted for the group, I had to motivate her not to give in to them, it's only when she do they win her and feel right about what they said and did, this was even the right time for her to prove to them that she is beyond the stigma, a strong and complete woman like every one of us that is married, and I believe that is the best way to stand against those that stigmatize you, say no to stigmatization in whatever form.
