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Microaggressions, Stereotypes, and Social Stigmatization in the Lived Experiences of Socially Marginalized Patients/Clients: A Social Justice Perspective

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Book cover Prejudice, Stigma, Privilege, and Oppression

Abstract

Mental health practitioners have an ethical and moral responsibility to practice social justice principles in their work with their socially marginalized patients/clients. Using a social justice lens, this chapter will bring awareness of social injustice in the form of microaggressions, stereotypes, and social stigmatization experienced by socially marginalized patients/clients in interactions with their healthcare practitioners. The lack of practitioner cultural competence is discussed as a possible contributor to the unjust treatment that patients/clients experience. A philosophical and moral framework will be used to problematize the biases of practitioners who enact these behaviors in interactions with their clients. Social justice education will be suggested as a curriculum-based or professional development-based means to expose and modify unjust behaviors and attitudes.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Relations, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA

    Marilyn Y. Byrd PhD

  2. Department of Communication Studies, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, USA

    Jasmine T. Austin PhD

Authors
  1. Marilyn Y. Byrd PhD
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  2. Jasmine T. Austin PhD
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Correspondence to Marilyn Y. Byrd PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, USA

    Lorraine T. Benuto

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, USA

    Melanie P. Duckworth

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA

    Akihiko Masuda

  4. Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, USA

    William O'Donohue

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Byrd, M.Y., Austin, J.T. (2020). Microaggressions, Stereotypes, and Social Stigmatization in the Lived Experiences of Socially Marginalized Patients/Clients: A Social Justice Perspective. In: Benuto, L., Duckworth, M., Masuda, A., O'Donohue, W. (eds) Prejudice, Stigma, Privilege, and Oppression. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35517-3_12

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