# Former stigmas **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 22, 2013, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-stigmas/666882 "2013-08-22T16:13:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-stigmas/666882/1 "2013-08-22T16:13:05Z")
What are some things that used to be stigmas, but no longer are? Off the top of my head: Homosexuality, bisexuality Divorce Sex before marriage Children out of wedlock Poverty (being on welfare) Interracial dating/marriage What else? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-stigmas/666882/2 "2013-08-22T16:36:23Z")
Cohabitation (unmarried couples living together) Women working (especially married women with children) Men _not_ working, but staying home to take care of their kids while their wives are the breadwinner Caveat: Although all the things mentioned in this thread are no longer the stigmas they once were, that’s not to say that they’re universally approved of even now. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-stigmas/666882/3 "2013-08-22T16:43:25Z")
smoking pot? tattoos piercings Some people still might not be “fans,” but I don’t think there’s nearly as much of a stigma as there once was. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-stigmas/666882/4 "2013-08-22T16:44:43Z")
Honestly, what’s left that is a real stigma, the way it used to be? I’ve got child sex offenders and then… what else? All of the things in the OP will get you odd looks or unpleasant reactions from some people, but it just seems like modern culture has lost the knack for proper ostracism. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-stigmas/666882/5 "2013-08-22T16:49:53Z")
> [@dracoi](#): > > Honestly, what’s left that is a real stigma, the way it used to be? > > I’ve got child sex offenders and then… what else? Sex with sheep? ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-stigmas/666882/6 "2013-08-22T16:51:23Z")
The sinister - left-handers. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-stigmas/666882/7 "2013-08-22T16:58:35Z")
Cancer used to be a stigma, at least among some people who thought you could catch it. When I was a health care worker, we had a patient with syphilis. NO ONE wanted to be assigned to her. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-stigmas/666882/8 "2013-08-22T16:59:34Z")
> [@dracoi](#): > > Honestly, what’s left that is a real stigma, the way it used to be? > > I’ve got child sex offenders and then… what else? There are new stigmas, for things that used to be taken less seriously than they are today: Spousal and child abuse Drunk driving Sex with underage but post-pubescent girls Smoking cigarettes ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-stigmas/666882/9 "2013-08-22T16:59:45Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > What are some things that used to be stigmas, but no longer are? Off the top of my head: > > Homosexuality, bisexuality > Divorce > Sex before marriage > Children out of wedlock > Poverty (being on welfare) > Interracial dating/marriage > > What else? None of those things used to **be** stigmas, they used to be stigmatized, or to carry stigmas (or stigmata), or have stigmas attached to them. A stigma is a _mark_ or _sign_ of disgrace, it is not the disgraceful behavior or situation itself. Also, I am far from convinced that poverty and especially being on welfare does not still carrya strong stigma for many people. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-stigmas/666882/10 "2013-08-22T17:07:16Z")
Formerly stigmatized: NOT having colonies like the big countries. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-stigmas/666882/11 "2013-08-22T18:54:17Z")
Men wearing earrings. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-stigmas/666882/12 "2013-08-22T18:56:25Z")
I keep reading the title as 'Former **stigmatas**. I guess they’re like piercings, which will close up if you don’t use them. Say, did you hear about the woman who spied on the Church? Stigmata Hari! ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-stigmas/666882/13 "2013-08-22T20:09:46Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > There are new stigmas, for things that used to be taken less seriously than they are today: > > Spousal and child abuse > Drunk driving > Sex with underage but post-pubescent girls > Smoking cigarettes As I’m sure you realize, spousal and child abuse, and drunk driving are more stigmatized now than in the past. They used to much more tolerated by society. And smoking made you look cool! ---
**Author:** ![want2befree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3e96dc/32.png) [@want2befree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2befree)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-stigmas/666882/14 "2013-08-22T20:12:04Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Men wearing earrings. Back in my day, you’d check to see which ear he was wearing it in to determine whether he was gay. Nowadays, it seems everyone just wears earrings in both ears. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-stigmas/666882/15 "2013-08-22T23:36:30Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > What are some things that used to be stigmas, but no longer are? Off the top of my head: > > Homosexuality, bisexuality > Divorce > Sex before marriage > Children out of wedlock > Poverty (being on welfare) > Interracial dating/marriage > > What else? All of these things still carry stigma. They just don’t carry as much of it, and it’s not as open. To answer your question: Being physically handicapped doesn’t carry as much stigma as it used to. Nor does having a mental illness. Being single and childless, especially for women, is not as big of a deal as it once was. Obesity is one thing I’m not sure about. We talk a good game about body acceptance and embracing the inside more than the outside. It used to be that only a minority of people dealt with weight issues, but now most people do. But on the other hand, every other article on the internet is about the horribleness of being fat and everyone’s constantly dieting. So I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2013, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-stigmas/666882/16 "2013-08-22T23:46:51Z")
Snowboarding, unfortunately. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-stigmas/666882/17 "2013-08-23T00:18:12Z")
> [@dracoi](#): > > Honestly, what’s left that is a real stigma, the way it used to be? Being an atheist, Muslim, or fat come to mind. Being a man, in the eyes of many women; “you are a rapist or child molester until proven otherwise” is a common attitude. ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-stigmas/666882/18 "2013-08-23T00:52:33Z")
bankruptcy ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-stigmas/666882/19 "2013-08-23T01:40:58Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > What else? Seeing a psychologist/psychiatrist. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-stigmas/666882/20 "2013-08-23T04:52:49Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > As I’m sure you realize, spousal and child abuse, and drunk driving are more stigmatized now than in the past. They used to much more tolerated by society. And smoking made you look cool! I’m sure he realizes that too, since he said (and you even quoted!): > [@Colibri](#): > > There are new stigmas, for things that used to be taken less seriously than they are today: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-stigmas/666882.md?page=2)