Nursing

Stigma (botany)

Social stigma

Quantum mechanics

Health care

Biology

Isolation (microbiology)

Social psychology

Psychiatry

Economics

Phenomenon

Physics

Social isolation

Psychology

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

Microbiology

Family medicine

Medicine

Stereotype (UML)

Economic growth

Journal of Family Nursing

Stigma is a powerful social phenomenon with insidious health implications. Understanding stigma as it applies to various populations is imperative for nurses as it enables nurses to enhance individual patient care and nurses are well positioned to influence both social and health care policies which may exacerbate the experience of stigma. This article is a report of a study to explore the experiences of women who provide long-term foster care. Interviews were conducted with 20 women who provided long-term foster care in Australia. Data were coded according to the components of stigma described by Link and Phelan (2001). Findings reveal participants rejected the label of foster carer to avoid the negative stereotype. When unable to conceal their foster carer label, participants experienced social isolation and status loss. Moreover, participants felt marginalized and disempowered within the governing systems.

The Stigma of Being a Long-Term Foster Carer