If only we could live in a post-stigma world, you know, “why can’t we all just get along ?” However, I see this country becoming more and more polarized, not less so, and it is really a red state, blue state divide. I try to figure out why it is so and I come up with several conclusions. One is the fact that the two coasts are so diverse, made up with people from all over the world. I am in New England and just because of the sheer number of people in all those categories mentioned, I don’t give it one minute of thought. Lesbian ? So what, I see them every day, family, friends, what’s the big deal ? Single mother? They’re everywhere. Age makes more of a difference. You’re 17 ? My advice, do not have that child, stay in school, wait til you’re older. You’re an older un-married woman and choose to have a child - go for it. Never married older woman ? WOW, I am seeing so many of them ! SOO many friends daughters, 40ish, professional,unmarried, buying houses, traveling, good for them. Older woman/younger man ? 5-6 years, who cares … 15 or more…. what in the world do you have to talk about ? Mixed race couple ? WHEN WILL THIS WORLD FIGURE OUT THAT UNDER OUR SKIN WE ARE ALL ALIKE ??? I find it such a non issue. But why ARE these an issue in the middle and south of the country ? My only answer is lack of exposure, lack of education and religion. If I am being really honest here I will admit that the only stigma I carry is against the supossed “God fearing christians ” who I think are responsible for perpetuation the sense of otherness and shame for not adhering to their small minded, ignorant, biblical, perverted sense of how things should be. And I don’t see it changing any time soon.

i have a few dear friends who are transgendered. they get the the worst brunt of discrimination. my life before my current husband was filled with employment and social challenges as a single mother with a son who has autism. everywhere i went, people’s faces just shut down or backs were turned when i walked in.

Ask Margaret Mead. If only we could. Remember her theory that a woman has two phases to her true love: the match who gives the biologically correct descent and the younger man who satisfies after the babies have left the nest.

I resent the question.

I still think it is marriage between blacks and whites—as awful as that sounds to me it is what I still see and hear all around me…

Biggest stigma would probably be adult female high school teacher and teenage male student.

I find it rather comical to see a couple of posts on the interracial relationships/marriages being a stigma. Interracial couples are ordinary- even in the south. Not to mention that nearly every African American whose ancestors were from the south, like myself, are of mixed heritage-mixed with varying degrees of African, Caucasian and Native American ancestry. That so-called “interracial stigma” is a cover for wholesale bigotry and racism. It seems weird to have that opinion in the 21st century with all that we now know about the history and migration of Americans. I could go deeper, but my comments might crack someone’s antebellum sensibilities. I agree with beth willis in her comment that mental illness has the greatest stigma. The choices that were given in the poll were more about our personal judgment on how someone lives their life and who they choose (or don’t chose) to love. With mental illness, the person does not make a choice and as they work to stabilize their lives, society regards them as broken or defective people.

The biggest stigma is women on Welfare. This stigma is unspoken. Yet it is very real. The basic consenus is that women on Welfare are uneducated, lazy, dirty, and neglectful parents. It is assumed that they just want something for nothing. Although it cost more to care for one murderer in prison then is spent on one woman and her child this is not the information given to the public. As a result it is the women on Welfare that will take the blame for taxes rising not the murderer. Though billions of dollars are raised every year to help the poor that money contrary to beleif is not used to help those on Welfare. All of their aids are Welfare related programs from the State and Government. Where ever that donated money is going it is not going to them. But, since the general public is unaware of that they are that much angrier at these women. They assume that these women are misappropiating these aids when infact they are never getting them. Also many of these women are on Welfare because it was the only way out of an abusive relationship. Once on Welfare they found that they did not have the financial and material resources necessary (childcare and transportation) to become self supporting.

I’ve also encountered discrimination being divorced in the workplace working in non traditional jobs. I thought by this time in my career there would be more acceptance then along comes Sarah Palin and it feels like here we go again…fighting the fight once again for respect in the workplace!

Which has the biggest stigma associated with it? Whichever one is the most fun. or whichever makes you the happiest.

I think it’s disgusting how many people are filled with and act on racism, sexism, and homophobia in this day and age, any day and age. I am a spiritual person, but I do not believe that anyone who truly lives by God’s word would ever allow bigotry to stain their hearts. Whatever someone’s gender, race, age, or sexual orientation are should not be used to determine their worth as a human being. The only things that make someone a worthy human being are intelligence enough not to condone these hatreds, showing compassion for others, and focusing on open-mindedness. I would like to add this quote from the end moral of a classic episode of “He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe” called “Trouble In Arcadia”. Yes, I’m an 80s child and nostalgist, but this message is very true for all times and relevant to these issues we face today. ****Teela: “A very long time ago a wonderful document came into being. It was called the Magna Carta.” He-Man: “It was the first big step in recognizing that all people were created equal. But even though more laws have been passed to guarantee that, there are still those who try to keep others from being free.” Teela: “Fortunately Queen Sumana realized in time that only by working together could her city be saved. And that’s the way it should be. Together. Right?” He-Man: “Right.”**** These were the values I grew up by which shape my ideology growing up. I wish everyone lived in this mindset. Cheers, Michael

Politicians…