Important Announcements

Nondiscrimination Policy Update

Boston Medical Center Health System complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency and primary language), religion, culture, physical or mental disabilities, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity and/or expression. BMCHS provides free aids and services to people with disabilities and free language services to people whose primary language is not English.

To read our full Nondiscrimination Statement, click here.

Social Stigma

Social Stigma

Noun

Negative stereotypes and lower social status of a person or group based on perceived characteristics that separate that person or group from other members of a society.

Social stigma is commonly associated with being LGBTQIA+, being obese, having low income, having substance use disorders, having a physical or mental disability, having a mental health disorder, being foreign born, and more. Social stigma works to further marginalize people within society. 

Please refer to the Grayken Center for Addiction at BMC for more information and resources on how to reduce stigma related to substance use disorder and recover.

Source

Adapted from The Fenway Institute and CDC

The Glossary for Culture Transformation is a living document to be revised on an annual basis.

Suggested Citation: Office of Equity, Vitality, and Inclusion, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, and Boston University Medical Group. Glossary for Culture Transformation. 2021.

For questions or suggestions, please email wordsmatter@bu.edu