In today's world, where everyone is right in his own sight, they get to judge people based on what they believe that another does not consent to, and that most times degenerates to what we are discussing today, known as stigma.Stigmatization has to do with a form of rejection faced by someone or a group of persons based on what has been said of them or such a person.
In my country, every tribe is used to qualify them, which in one way or the other limits the extent to which they are related.I am one person that has and still suffers stigmatization because of my choice of life partner. One will ask if it bothers me, and my response is yes, and my response to it is that I don't care so much about it; hence, I am sure of what I am standing on. In my country we have different tribes, and as I said earlier, there are different things that each and every tribe in my country is known for.
So my husband happens to be from the middle belt, but from my own region, anyone from the Benue River is a northerner. Years before we met, my elder cousin sister already told me that she would deal with me if I eventually brought an Hausa man home because of the varied news she had heard of them. Finally, I brought one home, and that was the beginning of my battle with stigma. Knowing how everyone has been celebrated when they find someone to settle with, but mine was totally different. Years after our wedding, most of my relatives distanced themselves from relating to me.
Being that I am one who loves associating with friends and family, coming to this state makes me feel sorry, but it came to a point where I had to talk to myself to be strong.Dealing with such stigma as mine takes a strong heart because it is not so easy to relate to the fact that family just left you and friends shrank away because they could not respect my choice. Being strong at heart is one thing that has helped me so far and is still helping me.
I also told myself that everyone doesn't just have to see in the same direction, and I don't need anyone's approval for my happiness because they won't live with me in my husband's house. One other factor that has helped me go through this form of stigma is to be happy for what I have and take my husband's people as mine. In fact, I relate so well with them and have seen things around that make me feel at home, so there's not much to miss.For one to deal with stigma needs such a person to be happy with himself. Look for things that keep you going and stay with them.
If you go about complaining about your situation, then people will have more reasons to talk you down and make you feel more rejection.Thank you for stopping by my blog, dear friends, as this serves as my entry to the last edition of this week's contest.