Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity - Erving Goffman

Erving Goffman examines how society treats people whose characteristics are regarded as discrediting, and how they navigate the social consequences of being labelled different. He explores the relationship between identity, prejudice and social expectations, looking at how people manage information about themselves, respond to discrimination and negotiate interactions with others. Goffman considers stigma associated with physical differences, perceived character flaws and group identity, revealing how social judgements shape everyday life and personal relationships. First published in 1963, this influential work remains a key text in the sociology of identity and social interaction.