Stigma, Ethics and Policy: A Response to Bayer

Social Science & Medicine, Vol. 67, p. 473, 2008

Temple University Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2008-74

11 Pages Posted: 24 Jul 2008 Last revised: 17 Sep 2008

See all articles by Scott Burris

Scott Burris

Center for Public Health Law Research, Temple University - James E. Beasley School of Law

Date Written: July 23, 2008

Abstract

In Stigma and the Ethics of Public Health: Not Can We but Should We, 67 SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE (2008), Ronald Bayer asks whether "stigmatization always represents a threat to public health?" and whether "there [are] occasions when the mobilization of stigma may effectively reduce the prevalence of behaviors linked to disease and death?" In this commentary, I offer an unambiguous answer: Yes, and No. For purposes of an ethical analysis of stigma in public health practice, we should ignore Erving Goffman's treatment of stigma as a universal phenomenon. We should instead start with his account of how stigma works, and follow scholars like Bruce Link and Jo Phelan in trying to understand stigma as a harmful phenomenon experienced by vulnerable groups. It remains unclear that smokers, the group Bayer chooses as is example, are stigmatized in that sort of framework. If they are, the state and those working under its auspices should not be promoting or indulging that stigma in any way, because stigma is a barbaric form of social control that relies upon the most primitive and destructive of emotions. And chances are it won't work anyway.

Keywords: Public Health, Ethics, Shaming, tobacco

Suggested Citation

Burris, Scott C., Stigma, Ethics and Policy: A Response to Bayer (July 23, 2008). Social Science & Medicine, Vol. 67, p. 473, 2008, Temple University Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2008-74, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1172245

Scott C. Burris (Contact Author)

Center for Public Health Law Research, Temple University - James E. Beasley School of Law ( email )

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