Word to Learn, Remember and Use - STIGMA

Stigma

[Wikipedia]

Stigma (plural: stigmata) is a word that originally means a "sign", "point" or "branding mark"

As Symbolic marks,

Stigmata is a term used to describe body marks, sores or sensations of pains in locations correspondinf to the crucifixition wonds of Jesus Christ, such as the hands, wrists and feet.

Hands with Stigmata, depicted on a Franciscan church in Lienz, Austria.

As badge of shame,
[Refer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badge_of_shame]

Symbol of Shame or Mark of Shame is simply referred as a "Stigma". This could be a typical distinctive symbol required to be worn by a specific group or an individual for the purpose of public humiliation, ostracism (a procedure under the Athenian democracy in which any citizen could be expelled from the city-state of Athens for ten years.) or persecution.

Examples,

picture below shows prisoners in Utah wearing striped prison uniform considered as a badge of shame.

The yellow badge that Jews were forced to ware in Nazi Germany as a badge of Shame,

Dunce Cap, formally used as an article of discipline in schools given to school children to wear as punishment by public humiliation for misbehaviour and, as the name implies stupidity. Frequently the 'dunce' was made to stand in the corner, facing the wall as a result of bad behaviour.

A young boy wearing a dunce cap in class, from a staged photo c.1906

Social Stigma,

Social stigma is the extreme disapproval of (or discontent with) a person or group on socially characteristic grounds that are perceived, and serve to distinguish them, from other members of a society. Stigma may then be affixed to such a person, by the greater society, who differs from their cultural norms.

Social stigma can result from the perception (rightly or wrongly) of:

• mental illness, 
• physical disabilities, 
• diseases such as leprosy,
• illegitimacy, 
• sexual orientation, 
• gender identity, 
• skin tone, 
• education, 
• nationality, 
• ethnicity, 
• religion or
• criminality.

Other References:

[V.com] A symbol of disgrace or infamy
[COD] A strong feeling of disapproval that most people in a society have about something, especially when this is unfair.

Other examples,

• There is no longer any stigma to being divorced.
• Being an unmarried mother no longer carries the social stigma that it used to.