STIGMATIZATION

This study was designed to examine the influence of societal attitudes toward the education of learners with hearing impairments in Benin City. Four research questions were formulated to guide the study. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The total sample of the study consisted of fifty(50) learners with hearing impairments in Ihogbe College, from both junior and senior schools (Hearing Impaired unit) in Benin City, a public Secondary School in the sampled area. Random sampling technique has used to select the respondents. The research instruments for the study was a questionnaire titled "Societal Attitudes Towards the Education of Learners with Hearing Impairments Questionnaire" which was distributed to the respondents and collected immediately after completion. Simple frequency percentages, mean scores and standard deviations were used to analyze the responses. To ensure the reliability of the study, Cronbach's Alpha was calculated, yielding a value of 0.716. The findings revealed that societal attitudes have a minimal direct impact on these learners' educational experiences, with most respondents reporting no significant stigma or discrimination from peers or teachers. However, the study highlights that misconceptions and lack of awareness about hearing impairments create challenges in their education, particularly regarding inclusion in regular classrooms. While societal attitudes do not significantly motivate academic achievement, they negatively influence learners' self-esteem and confidence. The study indicates that negative perceptions from peers and teachers, while not directly affecting academic performance, can lower motivation and self-confidence, leading to indirect impact on academic success. Overall, the findings suggests that societal attitudes, while having a modest influence, play a more significant role in shaping the emotional well being and inclusion of learners with hearing impairments than in their academic outcomes.

This study examined social perception of stigmatization and alienation of single
motherhood in Ogbadigbo Community. This study is a survey design which was used to administer questionnaire to gather data from targeted respondents. The data was analysed using simple percentages and frequency tables. The study showed that there is high level of stigmatization and alienation on single mothers in Ogbadigbo Community area of Benue State. The study also showed that there are different coping strategies utilized by single mothers in Ogbadigbo Community area of Benue State. The study recommended that communities where single mothers should be made to accommodate single mothers since many of them just find themselves in the condition in Ogbadigbo Community area of Benue State. Single mothers should try to find comfortable level of personality as to help them out of low self-esteem in Ogbadigbo Community area of Benue State.