October 2013 PMID 23955354

The reappropriation of stigmatizing labels: the reciprocal relationship between power and self-labeling.

Adam D Galinsky, Cynthia S Wang, Jennifer A Whitson, Eric M Anicich, Kurt Hugenberg, Galen V Bodenhausen

Mentions

17
Peak: 4 in Feb 2022
across 3 sources since Apr 2020

Extended reach

36,284
potential audience

Total likes

17

Video views

777

Mentions per month

Apr 2020 – Jul 2022

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter12 posts
  • News3 articles
  • YouTube2 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The posts collectively demonstrate an understanding of reappropriation as empowering, using examples such as Black communities reclaiming words and referencing research on psychological impacts, which reflect the article’s focus on how language influences power and perception. The tone varies from informative to supportive, emphasizing the importance and complexity of self-labeling in social contexts.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions recognize the validity of reappropriating stigmatizing labels as a form of empowerment, consistent with the article's findings.

InterestModerate interest

Participants show moderate curiosity, referencing related research and concepts like linguistic reclamation, indicating some engagement with the topic.

EngagementModerate engagement

Several posts go beyond surface-level comments, citing studies and discussing specific examples like reclaiming words in oppressed groups.

ImpactModerate impact

Discussions highlight the significance of this research in understanding social power dynamics and personal empowerment, suggesting a meaningful influence on social perceptions.

Abstract in brief

  • The study proposes a theoretical model where reappropriating stigmatizing labels involves a reciprocal relationship between power and selflabeling, showing that adopting derogatory terms can influence perceptions of power and stigma.
  • Experiments found that increased group, but not individual, power made participants more willing to self-label with derogatory group terms, which in turn made them feel more powerful and led observers to see them as more powerful, reducing negative evaluations of the labels.
  • This effect was specific to derogatory terms and did not occur with neutral descriptive or majority-group labels, suggesting that reappropriating slurs can serve to weaken their stigmatizing impact by enhancing perceived power.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Fiona Robertson fionaswriting.bsky.social
@FionasWriting · X

@Steve__Clare If you're interested, here's an interesting study about the psychological power of reclaiming slurs: https://t.co/rMkVLQIqYT

Apr 19, 2020 · 1 like · 8,542 followers View post →
ᴏɴʟʏ ɪᴢᴢᴏ ᴄᴀɴ sᴀᴠᴇ ᴜs
@ev_marie24 · X

@KhakisTree @BFlowSpartan @Seouljaa Oppressed groups reclaim words that oppress them. It can be empowering. Black people, women, and lgbtq community have done it with different words. You’re not oppressed so you don’t get to say those words. It’s simple. https://t.co/GpksM3o0g5

Jul 20, 2020 · 1 like · 7,356 followers View post →
Nemesis 2025
@Nemtastic1 · X

@brasher_bryan @DarwinFleurs @meghanncuniff She called herself a white supremacist in the same way that some black people will call each other the n-word, gays will call each other "f@g", feminists use "b1tch", etc. Rejecting the stigma of the now-meaningless label. https://t.co/vwzMtADO4m

Feb 25, 2022 · 1 like · 1 share · 3,624 followers View post →
Affinity
@affinity292 · X

@Alighttouch1 @cannmay13 @bufolow @MarkDice The people who make such racist claims about African Americans and Slavery are usually the same people making racist claims about Jews... But, I'm with you. And what they fail to understand is https://t.co/EcneBkx1Km

Apr 15, 2020 · 1 like · 1,490 followers View post →
Monique Botha is actually they/them
@DrMBotha · X

@d_galasinski @MummyAutistic Also some interesting reading: https://t.co/5yzahYZSZt

Oct 7, 2020 · 11,542 followers View post →
Affinity
@affinity292 · X

@MarkDice You cannot compare the two. It is called Linguistic appropriation. https://t.co/EcneBkx1Km

Apr 15, 2020 · 1,490 followers View post →

All mentions

Iron Fist
@ironfistt1992 · X

RT @Nemtastic1: @brasher_bryan @DarwinFleurs @meghanncuniff She called herself a white supremacist in the same way that some black people w…

Feb 27, 2022 · 1 share · 125 followers View post →
Nemesis 2025
@Nemtastic1 · X

@brasher_bryan @DarwinFleurs @meghanncuniff She called herself a white supremacist in the same way that some black people will call each other the n-word, gays will call each other "f@g", feminists use "b1tch", etc. Rejecting the stigma of the now-meaningless label. https://t.co/vwzMtADO4m

Feb 25, 2022 · 1 like · 1 share · 3,624 followers View post →
deleted
@yblockmydelete · X

@ForrestHodge4 @Schapney @cecgem53 @nathaliejacoby1 There’s research about this. Spoiler alert. It’s more complicated that that . https://t.co/2DxKzIACTb

Feb 5, 2022 · 468 followers View post →
deleted
@yblockmydelete · X

@Sam95371684 @JonesLeica @Therese77048812 @asuburbanhen @OccupyDemocrats Don’t be obtuse. https://t.co/2DxKzIACTb

Feb 5, 2022 · 468 followers View post →
Marsh
@MarshNotAPro · X

@raydelosinutil Look up Linguistic reappropriation, reclamation, or resignification; educate yourself before even attempting to come at me. https://t.co/UKJqUy0VoO

Jul 28, 2021 · 62 followers View post →
whalienberry
@whalienberry · X

The Reappropriation of Stigmatizing Labels: The Reciprocal Relationship Between Power and Self-Labeling https://t.co/zXrYuO1lh4

Dec 10, 2020 · 189 followers View post →
Monique Botha is actually they/them
@DrMBotha · X

@d_galasinski @MummyAutistic Also some interesting reading: https://t.co/5yzahYZSZt

Oct 7, 2020 · 11,542 followers View post →
ᴏɴʟʏ ɪᴢᴢᴏ ᴄᴀɴ sᴀᴠᴇ ᴜs
@ev_marie24 · X

@KhakisTree @BFlowSpartan @Seouljaa Oppressed groups reclaim words that oppress them. It can be empowering. Black people, women, and lgbtq community have done it with different words. You’re not oppressed so you don’t get to say those words. It’s simple. https://t.co/GpksM3o0g5

Jul 20, 2020 · 1 like · 7,356 followers View post →
Nick
@ncktckr · X

@TlVidz @2nd_AND_Long @jbsiegfried @ModernWarzone @CallofDuty @Activision @InfinityWard @RavenSoftware @JoeCecot @ArtPeasant I can see you're significantly struggling to locate the relevant definition of "reappropriation". Here you go. No problem, happy to help

Jun 4, 2020 · 118 followers View post →
Fiona Robertson fionaswriting.bsky.social
@FionasWriting · X

@Steve__Clare If you're interested, here's an interesting study about the psychological power of reclaiming slurs: https://t.co/rMkVLQIqYT

Apr 19, 2020 · 1 like · 8,542 followers View post →
Affinity
@affinity292 · X

@Alighttouch1 @cannmay13 @bufolow @MarkDice The people who make such racist claims about African Americans and Slavery are usually the same people making racist claims about Jews... But, I'm with you. And what they fail to understand is https://t.co/EcneBkx1Km

Apr 15, 2020 · 1 like · 1,490 followers View post →
Affinity
@affinity292 · X

@MarkDice You cannot compare the two. It is called Linguistic appropriation. https://t.co/EcneBkx1Km

Apr 15, 2020 · 1,490 followers View post →
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