Essay prompt: Think of one derogated/stigmatized group in your society and explain how they

are stigmatized by referring to Galinsky, Hugenberg, Groom, and Bodenhausen (2003). In your
opinion, what could be done to eliminate/reduce this stigmatization?
Eliminating LGBT Stigma: Similar People but Different Feelings
In our era, people are stigmatized due to their social characteristics such as culture, race, and
gender. Based on this, some derogated people started grouping, and in our society, one of them is
LGBT. Stigmatization leads to overt and covert prejudice and discrimination, and groups are
disadvantaged in terms of opportunities they are afforded and the outcomes that they achieve. I
strongly believe that educating people and contact between them can reduce stigmatization.
LGBT people are stigmatized with some affairs that normal people have not handled in their
life. People show attitude toward them, and they approach with prejudice. In particular, the
homophobic attitudes of heterosexual individuals towards homosexual, bisexual individuals, and
their communities they belong to their behaviors are striking. While heterosexuality may seen as
a 'normal' tendency by the society, sexual predispositions other than this can be seen as 'abnormal'
or 'deviant' behavior. Encountering such a stigmatization problem may cause LGBT individuals
to experience psychological issues such as depression, alcohol, and substance abuse, and even
lead them to suicide. In some situations, LGBT people may not have access to services that
normal people can easily access. They may have difficulties when they want to take advantage of
some of the opportunities provided to the public. Also, stigmatized people may not be able to get
the service they want for their purposes, or they may not obtain and use them in the direction they
want. Such as limited access to high-quality health care, defending their rights legally, getting and
keeping health insurance, or any other local serviceFurthermore, derogated groups are exposed to
discrimination. If they want to buy or rent a house, the owner can give up selling or renting the
house after learning that a customer is an LGBT person. According to Mallory, Brown, Russell,
& Sears (2017), “Texas is home to over 770,000 LGBT adults and 158,500 LGBT youth. LGBT
people in Texas lack important legal protections and face a less supportive social climate than
LGBT people in many other states. For example, statewide laws in Texas offer no protections
from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in areas such as employment,
housing, and public accommodations. “. LGBT individuals face problems in economic stability.
Discrimination against LGBT workers can lead to financial instability, including lower wages and
higher rates of poverty.
I am deeply convinced that educating people who suffer from stigma, and creating a more
social environment and getting in touch with other people can reduce stigmatization. Educational
anti-stigma interventions can present factual information about the stigmatized condition to
correct misinformation or contradict negative attitudes and beliefs. They counter inaccurate
stereotypes or myths by replacing them with facts. Frequently, contact-based interventions may
be combined with education, where factual information is presented. The people with lived
experience support and personalize the information by relating it to their own life experiences.
One of the best ways to reduce stigma is through educational campaigns (National Academies of
Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2016). Although prepared for a different purpose, it can be
useful in improving stress management and increasing self-esteem. Across a wide range of
stigmatizing conditions, people without stigmatized conditions have little meaningful contact
with those who have these conditions. Lack of contact can foster discomfort, distrust, and fear in
derogated individuals. Contact interventions aim to overcome this interpersonal divide and
facilitate positive interaction and connection between these groups. There is no communication
tool as big as the media today certainly. Media play an important part in forming, maintaining,
and countering stigmatization.
To sum up, people are stigmatized due to their social characteristics. In our society, one of the
stigmatized groups is LGBT. Stigmatization leads to overt and covert prejudice and
discrimination, and groups are disadvantaged in terms of opportunities they are afforded and the
outcomes that they achieve. In my opinion, educating people and contact between them can
reduce stigmatization.
 References

4 Approaches to Reducing Stigma. (2016). In Ending discrimination against people with mental
and substance use disorders: The evidence for stigma change. Washington, District of
Columbia: The National Academies Press.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK384914/

Mallory, C., Brown, T., Russell, S., & Sears, B. (2020, August 07). The Impact of Stigma and
Discrimination Against LGBT People in Texas. Retrieved September 16, 2020, from
https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/impact-lgbt-discrimination-tx/

Sathyanath, S. M. (2020). Stigma reduction and provision of mental health services in the public
health response to COVID-19. Retrieved September 16, 2020, from
https://www.iapsmupuk.org/journal/index.php/IJCH/article/view/1459/1004
Essay prompt: Think of one derogated/stigmatized group in your society, and explain how they are
stigmatized by referring to Galinsky, Hugenberg, Groom, and Bodenhausen (2003). In your opinion, what
could be done to eliminate/reduce this stigmatization?

INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH (Source 1/Paraphrase)

Thesis Statement: In our society, one of derogated groups is LGBT. Stigmatization leads to overt and
covert prejudice and discrimination, the negative reactions and evaluations, and groups are disadvantaged
in terms of opportunities they are afforded and the outcomes that they achieve. I strongly believe that
educating people and contact between them can reduce stigmatization.

BODY I
Topic Sentence: Derogated groups like LGBT are stigmatized with some affairs that normal people have
not handled in their life.
Supporting points/Details:
Prejudice
Limited facilities
Discrimination
o Not being able to find a job or a house (Source 2/Direct Quote)
o Facing problems in economic stability

BODY II
Topic Sentence: I am deeply convinced that educating people who suffer from stigma and creating a more
social environment and getting in touch with other people can reduce stigmatization.
Supporting points/Details:
Education
o Educational campaigns (Source 3/Summary)
o Correcting misinformation

Contact
o Media (Source 4/Summary)
o Being in a contact with other people

CONCLUSION PARAGRAPH
SOURCE I- Paraphrase
SOURCE II – Direct Quote
SOURCE III – Summary
SOURCE IV – Summary