The origin of the word “stigma” can be traced back to ancient Greece. Prisoners and convicts were identified and branded with a tattoo-like mark to segregate them from the rest of society. The usage of the word has changed in modern times. Now, it specifically describes social stigma, injustice, and wrongly perceived notions of the common masses.
India has become a global superpower in the 21st century. However, there are still misconceptions among her people on various issues. Social reformers have worked tirelessly in the past to get rid of these social evils. There are still incidents which happen throughout the nation on a daily basis. The development of a nation can be measured by the mindset of its citizens regarding society.
This article broadly highlights 10 social stigmas that are prevalent in India, which are as follows:
Gender Discrimination
Discrimination on the basis of gender is considered a global phenomenon. There are still many families who prefer a male child instead of a girl. Cases of female foeticide and infanticides are still common in various parts of India. This discrimination is not just limited to rural areas. People in metropolitan cities also happen to be overly concerned regarding the choices of a girl. Women are still discriminated against based on their clothing and physical appearance even today.
The Stigma of Ignoring Mental Health Problems
There is a saying in Hindi- “Mard ko Dard Nahi Hota”. Translated into English, it roughly means- “Real men don’t feel pain”. In this quest for toxic masculinity, a lot of Indians have forgotten what emotions feel like, This is more common regarding negative or dark emotions. Society frowns upon mental health discussion. Psychologist and psychiatrist consultation is a taboo subject, equivalent to a trip to the asylum according to society.
The fast-paced competitive world today requires a person to deal with high levels of stress. Mental health is a serious condition that Indian people overlook. This ignorance lands India at the top of the list of countries with people suffering from depression. On a worldwide scale, one in six people suffer from depression.
Discrimination on the basis of Caste and Religion
It is better to accept the bitter truth instead of sugar-coated lies. There are people living in India who are still discriminated on the basis of their Caste and Religion. Countless social workers have worked tirelessly to ensure that these evil segregations get erased from the Indian society. However, readers of any national newspaper are bound to find at least one or two cases of discrimination and violence every day.
It takes just a few minutes to identify the hidden grudge of a person against people from reserved communities. This is ironic, considering some of the primary words in the Preamble of our Constitution are “Secular”, “liberty” and “equality”.
LGBTQ Discrimination
While section 377 provides some relief to people from the LGBTQ community, it is the perception of the commoners that needs to change. In many interviews conducted by amateur journalists and social workers, people have often claimed that love between two people of the same gender to be an abomination. People should be aware of the distinction between people categorised as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer. These are just labels, not treatments. People can do a little bit of research regarding the definitions of these labels and make sure that they do not act in an insensitive way.
The stigma of Live-in relationships outside of marriage
While India has leapt in many areas, it is still difficult for an unmarried couple to find a residence to stay on rent. The concept of live-together is a huge social stigma in many localities and neighbourhoods. Instances of love-jihad, honour killing and vigilante groups seeking to brand their own perverted form of justice have a negative impact on unmarried couples planning to move in together. This situation is better in metropolitan cities for the greater good.
The Dowry System
On pen and paper, the act of dowry has been declared illegal. However, a large number of weddings still follow the dowry system. There are multiple reports of wedding cancellations due to disagreements between the two families every year. Instances of marital abuse after the wedding are also common. This generation is slowly departing from this age-old barbaric practice. Demand for cars, electronic appliances, and other household items are common on a regular basis.
The Stigma of Stereotyping on the basis of race and complexion
India is a land of cultural diversity. It is the unity between the many ethnic groups that we should be proud of. However, we are guilty of stereotyping and using racial slurs for each ethnic community. People nationwide harass people from North-Eastern states by using a derogatory term like “Chinky” (Yellow People/Asian).
In the case of arranged marriages, it is not uncommon for a family to prefer a bride of fairer complexion. The cosmetic industry in India is one of the largest in the world. The highest sold products are fairness enhancement creams, indicating the damaging levels of low self-esteem among Indian women having a darker complexion. In our subconsciousness, the whiter skin is the better skin, even after seventy years of independence.
Discrimination on Eating habits
It would be foolish to recommend everyone to give up on consuming meat. Human beings are by default omnivorous in nature. Consuming food derived from animals is not a sin. The main issue should rather be the humane treatment of both dairy animals and livestock animals. Animal sacrifice still occurs in some parts of the country during rituals.
This problem affects those who live outside their hometown for education, job, or for other reasons. There are houses that will board only vegetarian people as tenants.
The Stigma of Family Interference in Dreams and Ambitions
In the average Indian household, Science and Commerce is a better subject than Arts. Competitive parents coerce their child with excessive burdens and the need to excel in all domains of life. It is necessary to provide solid guidance and environment for your ward to mature in the best way possible. However, your child may have different dreams and ambitions that may not match up to your expectations. Your child’s dream profession may not enable them to earn as much as an engineer or a chartered accountant. However, they will be content knowing that they are following their dreams.
The Stigma of Censored Sex Education
The incident of rape is widespread in India. Even foreign countries issue precautions to its female citizens travelling to India. The intent to rape is actually a mental disease. But the actions violate the very ‘will’ of the victim. People treat her as an inanimate object for gratification. Item songs and Bollywood movies are indirectly guilty of promoting rape culture.
Mandatory Sex Education for every person should be compulsory. Children should learn about biological differences, the meaning of consent, menstrual cycle, etc. It is a taboo to discuss sex in Indian households. Dear parents, please realise that censoring Sex and anything related to it did nothing to reduce the population of your ‘Sanskaari’ India. It is from you and me that the change should be started.
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