“Stigma power” is a concept in sociology and psychology that refers to the influence and control that societal stigma exerts over individuals or groups who are marginalized or discriminated against. Stigma is a powerful social force that can shape people’s identities, experiences, and behaviours by labelling them as different, deviant, or inferior.

When we talk about “stigma power,” we’re discussing how the negative perceptions, stereotypes, and social rejection associated with a particular stigma give others (often those without the stigma) the ability to control or limit the opportunities and well-being of those who are stigmatized. This power dynamic can manifest in various ways, such as through discrimination, social exclusion, internalized stigma (where the stigmatized group starts believing in the negative stereotypes), and reduced access to resources or opportunities.

For example, the stigma surrounding mental illness can give rise to “stigma power” where those with mental health conditions might be treated unfairly, denied jobs, or even shunned socially, based on the stigma rather than their actual abilities or character. This concept is critical in understanding how societal attitudes can perpetuate inequality and harm marginalized groups.

When we are talking about trans and eunuch individuals, we talk about how we are treated as not-fully-sane by cis individuals, whether medical professionals, care workers, friends, or even family. We may have our routes to care guarded against our access, or impediments thrown in our way that do not affect treatment options given more freely to cis individuals.

Summarised from “Stigma: the machinery of inequality” by Imogen Taylor, Bloomsbury Academic 2020