Stigma in our society today is something that we cannot seem to avoid regardless of how we try or where we are, because no matter what, you tend to see people caught up in the web of stigmatisation or you yourself been a victim of stigmatisation at some point. Stigmatisation which is a strong sense of negativity which is shown to someone labelling them as being unworthy, disgraceful and utterly disapproving. At times it is been caused by different scenarios and situations which can be your social standing in the society, for example if your family is not well off and is battling with poverty or academic failures or it can be health challenges where one of your family member is suffering from a health issue that is dangerous and infectious thereby making others sideline you for fear of contracting it from you.
Let me tell you a story, you see I have this neighbor his name is John and he was a very close friend of mine,we lived in the same compound and went to the same school then, so John was from an average family were they weren't rich and they were not poor either and the parents do everything possible to give them a better education regardless of their situation but at times when the pressure is too much for the father that's when you will find him in the bar taking alcohol just to forget for a moment the struggles he's faced with. Then on a faithful day the father went to the bar as usual and got drunk, then a bikeman brought him home and dropped him at the front of his house by the roadside where me and one of his son were seated and though he was really drunk he still paid the bikeman who brought him home but when the bikeman was about to go suddenly the father held the back of the bike demanding his change but we knew that there was no change to be given because he gave the man the exact amount needed for the transportation.
When me and his son tried to tell him that there was no change, he yelled at us and asked us to get out of there and that attracted the attention of those passing by and those that were there also. He kept insisting on his change and the bikeman kept telling him there was no change but he refused and then the bikeman turned on his bike and was about to go suddenly the father held the back of the bike and with the bikeman not knowing moved and dragged the father along rolling on the ground and the bike lost balance and fell also, then we rushed and picked the father up together with the bikeman and took the father inside then checked on the bikeman if he was seriously injured and when we confirmed he wasn't seriously injured,he left afterwards.
This incident put the family especially the children in a very tight spot in the community and even in school because whenever they go out to either play or go to school they were addressed as children of a drunk, been looked down on and most times avoided by other kids as a result of that, but John was very determined and hardworking regardless of what was said to him even though I knew he felt hurt by how he was been addressed.
Now John has grown up to be a reliable young man that his parent and community are proud of. He now provides and supports his parents fully and wholeheartedly and the service's he is rendering to his community as an architect are fully acknowledged and rewarded.
Even though stigmatisation is inevitable in our society,we should try not to discriminate those that are affected but rather try to show love and help them overcome it.
This is my Entry on the weekly Featured Content ' EFFECT OF STIGMA '
Thank you for taking your time to read through this write-up about stigmatisation
Remain blessed
