Understanding and Challenging Stigma toward ... - Pact Cambodia

Coping with
Stigma
Example Response:
Here are some examples that MSM gave at a workshop of places where they felt
stigmatized and the specific forms of stigma that occurred at each place. The examples
below are not the required answers, and you are not expected to read them out loud.
They are included to illustrate the type of responses expected and can help you identify
issues you may want to raise, if they are not raised by participants. However, you should
let each group come up with their own ideas. Remember: there are no right and wrong
answers.
Place
Stigma and Discrimination
Home
Clinic
Public Spaces
Community
Workplace
MSM
Forced to cut off hair, dress and behave like “real men.”
Scolded for bringing shame to family. Beating. Forced to do
men’s tasks. Behavior monitored.
Isolation and exclusion within family. Forced to get married.
Clinic staff insulting, show their disapproval and keep their
distance out of dislike. Gossip about MSM. Breach
confidentiality by telling other staff and patients. Fail to provide
appropriate diagnosis, treatment and care.
Gossip, name calling, and harassment by the public. Harassment
by some police who force MSM to remove clothes and
prove they are “real men,” ask for bribes, and force MSM to
have sex with them.
Name calling, gossip, and isolation toward MSM, his family,
and friends.Kicked out of housing.
Denied employment or promotion. Name calling and
exclusion.
Some short hair MSM stigmatize long hair MSM. They try to
avoid contact with them so they are not identified and
stigmatized as MSM.
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