Aporophobia and poverty stigma: An intersectional analysis

On November 22, 2024, Dr. Juan Albacete, a postdoctoral researcher from the SEE research group, delivered an insightful seminar on the themes of aporophobia—fear or disdain of the poor—and the stigma surrounding poverty. The talk focused on the intersectional dimensions of these issues, offering a nuanced perspective on how societal attitudes toward poverty perpetuate inequality.

Stigma towards poverty remains a critical yet understudied aspect of social discrimination. This study investigates stigmatizing terms used to describe individuals living in poverty, analyzing their semantic content, geographic distribution, and intersectionality with other discriminatory dimensions. Drawing on a systematic review of academic references, 140 terms were identified across 40 countries. The findings reveal the frequent intersection of poverty stigma with dimensions such as race, gender, immigration, and rural origin, while religion was less commonly associated. A taxonomy of terms highlighted pervasive stereotypes portraying the poor as lazy, irresponsible, or undeserving, emphasizing individual blame over structural factors.

This study contributes to the understanding of how poverty stigma operates linguistically and intersectionally, offering a unique perspective on the multidimensional nature of aporophobia. By mapping the linguistic manifestations of stigma, the study provides a foundation for further exploring societal narratives surrounding poverty and their implications for discrimination.