Why does growth hurt? The dual role of normalization and stigmatization in the experience of growth hormone treatment

Abstract

While there has been a significant amount of research conducted on growth hormone (GH) in the field of medicine, very few studies have actually examined the experience from the vantage point of adults who were treated for short stature as children. On the basis of in-depth interviews with three women and two men, I explore the experiences of those who have firsthand knowledge of such treatment. What becomes clear in these narratives is that GH serves as both a normalizing and a stigmatizing force for the recipient. More broadly, this study seeks to contribute to the growing body of research on issues of physical appearance that plant the seeds for unequal treatment of individuals by society.

Citation

Rott, L. (2010), "Why does growth hurt? The dual role of normalization and stigmatization in the experience of growth hormone treatment", Barnartt, S.N. (Ed.) Disability as a Fluid State (Research in Social Science and Disability, Vol. 5), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 253-277. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1479-3547(2010)0000005013