John Quintner1. 1. Arthritis & Osteoporosis WA, Shenton Park, Western Australia, Australia.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Many female pain sufferers with medically unexplained pain are at risk of being stigmatized in our Western society. Fibromyalgia is offered as the exemplar condition. AIM: To understand why these women are being stigmatized. METHODS: A review of the recent literature was conducted with a focus on the perceptions of women with a diagnosis of fibromyalgia who have been stigmatized. RESULTS: Three intertwined themes emerged as contributing to their stigmatization: moralizing attitudes, disbelief as to the reality of pain, and pain's invisibility. CONCLUSION: Given how embedded the factors responsible for the stigmatization of women with fibromyalgia in Western society are, the realistic prospects for addressing this issue are poor.
INTRODUCTION: Many female pain sufferers with medically unexplained pain are at risk of being stigmatized in our Western society. Fibromyalgia is offered as the exemplar condition. AIM: To understand why these women are being stigmatized. METHODS: A review of the recent literature was conducted with a focus on the perceptions of women with a diagnosis of fibromyalgia who have been stigmatized. RESULTS: Three intertwined themes emerged as contributing to their stigmatization: moralizing attitudes, disbelief as to the reality of pain, and pain's invisibility. CONCLUSION: Given how embedded the factors responsible for the stigmatization of women with fibromyalgia in Western society are, the realistic prospects for addressing this issue are poor.
Authors: Cesar Ivan Aviles Gonzalez; Matthias Angermeyer; Laura Deiana; Caterina Loi; Elisabetta Murgia; Anita Holzinger; Giulia Cossu; Elena Massa; Ferdinando Romano; Mario Scartozzi; Mauro Giovanni Carta Journal: Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health Date: 2021-12-31