Stigma

No idea if this page and Stereotypes should be separate or not; there's a lot of overlap I think --Fochti (talk) 02:29, 24 August 2022 (UTC)

I think they can still be separated. Stereotypes can be positive, although positive stereotypes can also be harmful. However, stigma is always negative in nature. There's also stigmas that are directed to others, like parents. I think stereotypes are always directed at the person themself?

Autistic people face a lot of Stigma should they be "out" to the public.

Common stigmas

• Lack of empathy
• Essentially psychopaths
• Sexual predators
• Violent

Types of stigma

Self-stigma

Stigma directed towards oneself. Kind of like internalized ableism?

Public stigma

Stigma directed to autistic people by society.

Courtesy stigma

Stigma directed to people associated with autistic people, like family and parents. One example is how mothers of autistic kids get stigmatized as cold, unloving mother as a result of the refrigerator mother theory. This happens in regions where autism is still misunderstood. As a result, families might try their best to hide the kid's autism, which might lead to lack of effort to provide the kid with accommodations. Autistic kids in this kind of situation might also be forced to mask constantly.

See also

• Stereotypes