Let’s talk about place: Considerations for future spatial stigma research

Abstract

ABSTRACT A growing body of research has considered how spatial stigma can affect the health of individuals who reside in or relocate from stigmatized locales. However, no research has considered ways to mitigate spatial stigma’s effects on health. We consider four possibilities. First, to reduce spatial stigma, we must evaluate policies and initiatives that may perpetuate it. Second, challenging spatial stigma requires acknowledging the limitations of place-based interventions. Third, to reduce the perpetuation of spatial stigma we must actively work to change perceptions about stigmatized places. Lastly, scholars must reconcile how spatial stigma is used as a tool to appropriate space.