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Social stigma in time of COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from India

Barsa Priyadarsinee Sahoo (Alliance School of Law, Alliance University, Bangalore, India)
Avanish Bhai Patel (Alliance School of Law, Alliance University, Bangalore, India)

International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy

ISSN: 0144-333X

Article publication date: 30 April 2021

Issue publication date: 2 November 2021

336

Abstract

Purpose

The stigmatisation of COVID-19 patients or suspected cases is a matter of grave concern across the world, including India. Today, COVID-19 patients or suspected cases are being stigmatised or labelled as “corona carrier” and “corona spreader” because of which they are facing social rejection, mental torture, abusive behaviour and violence in the society. The objectives of the present study are to examine the nature of stigma construction in Indian society during COVID-19 pandemic and to explore its outcome on the well-being of corona-affected people.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses content analysis method to explain the COVID-19 stigma. The data have been collected from various Indian newspapers and magazines. The researchers have analysed the content of the news items related to social stigma which were collected from March to September 2020.

Findings

The study finds that COVID-19 patients or suspected cases are insulted and discriminated rudely by their family members and neighbours, and in many cases, they are not allowed to enter the house or the neighbourhood. The study has also pointed out that many COVID-19 patients or suspected cases have committed suicide as a result of being stigmatisation. Finally, the study explores that this social stigma is spreading due to fake news, lack of awareness and fear of corona infection.

Originality/value

This is an original paper which is based on content analysis. The present study focuses on the social stigma in Indian society during COVID-19. Basically, the present study has applied the theory of Erving Goffman which is based on stigma to examine the nature and problem of social stigma during COVID-19. The study has found that there are three types of social stigma during the corona pandemic: self-made stigma, family-made stigma and society-made stigma.

Keywords

Citation

Sahoo, B.P. and Patel, A.B. (2021), "Social stigma in time of COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from India", International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Vol. 41 No. 11/12, pp. 1170-1182. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSSP-01-2021-0012

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

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