A tentative definition of Social Devaluation

1. A tentative definition of Social Devaluation Module: Social Devaluation and its consequences

2. Devaluation is not the same as: • Being rude, impolite, discourteous • Disliking a person (we may devalue people whom we dislike, but we may devalue people whom we do not know) • Making demands upon a person

3. Social Devaluation Definition • The attribution of low, even no value • To a person or group • By another person or group • On the basis of some characteristic (usually a difference) • Perceived as negatively significant by the devaluer

4. How do people become devalued in the eyes of others? • Every society has certain qualities and conditions which are regarded as positive or negative • Some conditions are highly regarded in some cultures and not in others • The judgment depends on the particular society

5. Western Society values….. • Wealth, material possessions • Health, beauty, fitness • Youth, newness • Intelligence, competence and independence • Productivity and achievement • Individualism and choice • Pleasure

6. Typical Life Experiences of People who are Devalued • Identity reduced to that of an impairment • Likely to have low social status/standing • Likely to be rejected • Likely to be cast into negative social roles

7. The Major Negative Roles into which Devalued People Are Placed • Sub-human; Object, Animal, Vegetable • Menace, Object of Fear • Object of Ridicule • Object of Pity • Burden: Of Charity, On others • Child: Eternally, Once again • Client (forever, for everything) • Sick • Garbage, Discard • Dead, Dying, Better off dead

8. The Major Negative Roles into which Devalued People Are Placed • Sub-human; Object

9. The Major Negative Roles into which Devalued People Are Placed • Sub-human; Object, Animal

10. The Major Negative Roles into which Devalued People Are Placed • Sub-human; Object, Animal, Vegetable • Menace, Object of Fear

11. The Major Negative Roles into which Devalued People Are Placed • Sub-human; Object, Animal, Vegetable • Menace, Object of Fear • Object of Ridicule

12. The Major Negative Roles into which Devalued People Are Placed • Sub-human; Object, Animal, Vegetable • Menace, Object of Fear • Object of Ridicule • Object of Pity

13. The Major Negative Roles into which Devalued People Are Placed • Sub-human; Object, Animal, Vegetable • Menace, Object of Fear • Object of Ridicule • Object of Pity • Burden: Of Charity, On Others

14. The Major Negative Roles into which Devalued People Are Placed • Sub-human; Object, Animal, Vegetable • Menace, Object of Fear • Object of Ridicule • Object of Pity • Burden: Of Charity, On Others • Child: Eternally, Once again

15. The Major Negative Roles into which Devalued People Are Placed • Sub-human; Object, Animal, Vegetable • Menace, Object of Fear • Object of Ridicule • Object of Pity • Burden: Of Charity, On Others • Child: Eternally, Once again • Client (forever, for everything)

17. The Major Negative Roles into which Devalued People Are Placed • Sub-human; Object, Animal, Vegetable • Menace, Object of Fear • Object of Ridicule • Object of Pity • Burden: Of Charity, On Others • Child: Eternally, Once again • Client (forever, for everything) • Sick

18. The Major Negative Roles into which Devalued People Are Placed • Sub-human; Object, Animal, Vegetable • Menace, Object of Fear • Object of Ridicule • Object of Pity • Burden: Of Charity, On Others • Child: Eternally, Once again • Client (forever, for everything) • Sick • Garbage, Discard

20. The Major Negative Roles into which Devalued People Are Placed • Sub-human; Object, Animal, Vegetable • Menace, Object of Fear • Object of Ridicule • Object of Pity • Burden: Of Charity, On Others • Child: Eternally, Once again • Client (forever, for everything) • Sick • Garbage, Discard • Dead, Dying, Better off dead

21. Ways in Which People are Marked • Where people spend their time (setting) • With whom people spend their time (grouping) • What people spend their time doing (use of time and activity) • What people look like (image and competency) • How people are spoken about (language)

22. Typical life experiences contd. • Loss of control of one’s own life and reputation • Disruption of relationships (friends, family, community) • Loss of natural, freely given relationships

23. Common forms of control of people who are devalued • Being kept dependent upon individual service providers or agencies • Having to deal with, and report to agencies, offices, authorities • Having to fill out forms, often without being able to cope with them • Being ‘labelled’ • Being moved about • Having ones life wasted

24. An Internalised Sense of Worthlessness • Awareness of being a source of anguish to others • Personal insecurity • Dislike of self • Hatred & persecution of others, even ones supporters • Seeing self as a failure

25. Impact of social devaluation and wounding • It impacts at many levels (individual, family, service system, society) • It is not good for anyone at any level but particularly hurtful and harmful to people who are devalued and their families • We all experience some ‘wounds’ in our lives but there are differences