Modeling Spectral Structural Stigma with regards to Age-Related Stigma in the United States

• In Event: 40416 - New approaches to social network theory and methods

Abstract

Stigma has been instrumental in shaping social life and is observed in a variety of contexts. This paper aims to present an extension in modeling stigma (via the inhomogeneous 2-star) when dealing with characteristics (e.g. age, income, weight, etc.) that are on a spectrum/continuous on individuals. We explore the properties of this, and demonstrate how spectral stigma differs from its categorical counterpart. We then evaluate how age related stigma plays a role in shaping the sexual contact network in the United States, and find evidence that age discrepancies in partners are penalized.

Author

• Francis Lee, American Institutes for Research