Author: Erving Goffman
Synopsis
Goffman analyzes how societies define certain attributes or identities as discrediting and how people manage interactions when they possess, or are believed to possess, such attributes.
Why It Matters to Sociology
The book became foundational to the sociology of identity and deviance. Its framework is widely applied to disability, illness, race, sexuality, poverty, criminal records, and many other circumstances in which social labeling affects people's opportunities and relationships.