Journal
QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH
Volume 19, Issue 3, Pages 297-311Publisher
SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC
DOI: 10.1177/1049732308330246
Keywords
descriptive methods; health, determinants of; poverty, psychosocial issues; poverty stigma; qualitative methods, general; social inequality; vulnerable populations
Ask authors/readers for more resources
In this article, we report on qualitative findings pertaining to low-income people's perceptions of and responses to poverty stigma, a key component of social exclusion with important implications for health and well-being. Our findings are drawn from a multimethod study designed to investigate experiences of social exclusion and social isolation among people living on low incomes. We conducted semistructured individual interviews (n = 59) and group interviews (total n = 34) with low-income residents of two large Canadian cities. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis techniques. Participants overwhelmingly thought that other members of society tend to view them as a burden to society-as lazy, disregarding of opportunities, irresponsible, and opting for an easy life. Low-income people responded to perceived stigma with a variety of cognitive and behavioral strategies that reflected their efforts to reconcile their perceived social and personal identities. These strategies included confronting discrimination directly, disregarding responses from others, helping other low-income people, withdrawing and isolating themselves from others, engaging in processes of cognitive distancing, and concealing their financial situation.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available