Poverty and Stigma

Abstract

The poor, oppressed, and victimized continue to sufer discriminatory practices of India’s dominant others. The study reports social and psychological experiences of the downtrodden section of the Indian society and refects their concerns of being subjected to dehumanizing and stig- matizing experiences. Sixty-three respondents—residents of unauthorized, highly deprived slums of Allahabad city— were participants in the study. The fndings revealed that per- ceived poverty correlated positively with experiences of stig- matization and dehumanization. The participants also had lower self-esteem and were more down on perceived well- being. The results suggest that dehumanization and stigma- tization have implications for actualizing human potential. Results also implied that poverty had psychological conse- quences. In addition to economic and social disadvantages, they experienced dehumanization and stigmatization.