In the modern social space, social stigmatization is seen as an obstacle to the development of the abilities of an individual and a group. This concerns his or her social status and social success in the future. However, the manifestation of self-stigmatization deforms the possibilities of constructing the life of the individual both in short and in the distant future. It also contributes to the perpetuation and development of social inequality, which can be countered by empowerment.
Currently, stigma is widely used mainly in its original sense as it indicates the shameful status of the individual as such. Social stigma is the extreme disapproval or resentment of individuals for socially characteristic reasons that are perceived and served to distinguish them from other members of society. However, self-stigmatization is an action of someone who promotes and agrees with the imposed stigmas. The essence of such a stigmatization is manifested in the compliance with reaction to any deviations from the norms of a particular community. Subsequently, these deviations are consolidated with the help of various symbolic forms of stigmas. Empowerment plays a critical role in countering the issue, where certain marginalized groups are recognized and respected. Self-stigmatization can be expressed in various kinds of discriminatory attitudes of society towards patients, their families and relatives, as well as towards psychiatrists and psychiatric institutions. It should be noted that there are a large number of patients with mild mental disorders who may experience the influence of stigmatization more than the actual disease.
Stigma is social labeling, and an overweight person may be viewed by most people as weak, lazy, weak-willed, and unsuccessful. In recent decades, the topic of obesity stigmatization has begun to be studied not only in society, but also in medical institutions. Obese people feel condemned, rejected on the street, on public transport, in educational institutions, at work, in the store. More importantly, overweight patients feel rejected, judged by their doctors. At the same time, doctors, as a rule, do not understand the stigmatization of obesity, the relevance of this topic and the importance of researching it with the patient. As a result, the patient cancels consultations and even interrupts treatment. Ultimately, all this contributes to an increase in body weight and an increase in the likelihood of diseases and psychological conditions associated with obesity. For example, in order to combat the fat-shaming of women, it is important to put them in a spotlight and implement a new standard of beauty. It is needed to stop the stigmatization of obese individuals, where it is known the fact that the issue is not solely caused by diet and activity.
In conclusion, self-stigmatization is carried out on the basis of certain patterns of development of social relations. However, due to less awareness of the problem and underestimation of its importance, a person does not consider self-stigmatization as an obstacle to the development of a person. It can leave an imprint both on an individual and on a group of people, a social phenomenon as a whole, and thus, empowerment is necessary. Such a stigma is produced and reproduced in society at the level of common sense. Therefore, government policy, social services, as well as the actions of civil society, should reveal the mechanisms that support the stigmatization of certain groups. In this process, a critical revision of such mechanisms, the search for new non-discriminatory strategies and reflexive practices of various subjects of social policy becomes a necessary element.