Territorial stigma perception; coping strategies (Case of study: residents of low-income areas of Mashhad city)

Living in low-income confronts the residents with Territorial stigma and negative consequences, so the residents of these neighborhoods adopt strategies to cope with stigma. Therefore, this research aims to know the strategies of residents of the low-income areas of Mashhad with place-based stigma. Goffman's and place-based stigma theories were used for cognitive usefulness. This study used a qualitative method based on purposeful sampling and the semi-structured interview technique on the residents of 6 low-income areas of Mashhad. Also, data analysis was carried out with Brown and Clark's thematic analysis technique. The findings of 20 interviews with the residents of low-income areas showed that these people perceived place-based stigma in two ways: Felt stigma through various labels and experienced stigma through the experience of labels, communication disorders, and inferior actions. The experience and perception of stigma caused people to use strategies to cope with stigma; They adopt interaction strategies (social exclusion, social persuasion, impulsiveness, adaptation) and non-interaction strategies (passivity, transitivity) to cope with discredited stigma and to cope with the discreditable stigma, they adopt concealment and adaptation (appearance, Thoughts, speech, action) strategies.