Stigma

To properly study history, one must be aware of human psychology and sociology. (Psychology being the study of the individual and sociology being the study of groups in society). This way when we take a look into the past, we can control our urge to make quick and often wrong judgments.

The book Stigma by Erving Goffman analyzed just that issue of stigma in society As Goffman stated, “a society creates the machinery of control in order to protect itself against the “harmful” effects of deviation” (8). What he means is that, a powerful controlling group within a society makes up stigmas to label minor groups. This way all of society is under control. Everyone has their place within the hierarchy order.  

So when we look at Medieval European we see a stigmatized society. European society was filled with stigmatized individuals like Jews, Lepers, Prostitutes, Heretics, among others. It is of no surprise that this society was stigmatized, after all it was a Feudal society. (Feudalism was a society of lords and their vassals. One was dependent on the other.) Social divided always existed, someone had to feel superior to another group. For example, kings were superior to all, then came the church, aristocracy, the common people, and below them the stigmatized groups.