Stigma Quote by Lindy West
““We do not stigmatize people with stomach flu. The active ingredient in period stigma is misogyny.””
About This Quote
Source Article: “Stigma and the Stomach Flu” by Lindy West, The Guardian, 2020
Stigma often stems from gender bias, turning a common illness into a target for misogynistic attitudes.
In simple terms: Stigma about illness can be fueled by sexism.
Key Takeaway
Challenge gendered assumptions about health.
Themes
gender
health
stigma
misogyny
social justice
Mood
critical
activist
Type
opinion
social commentary
When to use this quote
- workplace health policies
- media coverage
- school health education
Key Concepts
intersectionality
public health
cultural bias
Questions to Reflect On
- What other prejudices influence health stigma?
- How can we reduce gendered language in health discussions?
A Different Perspective
Stigma may also arise from other biases, not just gender.
![“It's always amusing to see how much less the political class knows than the rest of us do. ... it's never occurred to [the likes of Senators Brownback and Obama] that they bear a worse stigma than any AIDS patient, being almost universally regarded as blowhards, crooks, dopes, and fools.” quote by Stephen D. Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fd1/stephen-d-cox-91414_aids_it-s-always-amusing-to-see-how-much-less_62268.jpg)
