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This theoretical piece from the USA provides a conceptual model for understanding the social process of stigmatisation, described as consisting of five elements, and how it applies to children of prisoners. The model is intended to explain why families conceal the fact that a child's parent is in prison; the potentially protective function of social withdrawal; possible links between stigmatisation and childhood emotional and behavioral problems; how fear of stigmatisation may impede help seeking; and the possibility for research and advocacy to contribute to the stigmatisation of children who experience parental imprisonment. The piece concludes by considering whether efforts to identify children of prisoners as a distinct group contributes to labelling and stigmatisation, and suggests instead that children of prisoners not be singled out but provided for in policy and practice alongisde other vulnerable children with absent parents. The interplay between stigmatisation and the development of emotional and behavioural issues is highlighted, and an argument made that the discriminatory behaviours that precede these issues should be tackled rather than solely focusing on the issues themselves. The researchers recognise that changing stigmatising attitudes is a process that will take time.
Read more about the stigmatisation of children with parents in prison below:
