The Stigmatization of Ex-Political Detainees in Employment Practices

Abstract
The present study investigated the employment responses of 570 personnel practitioners regarding stigmatized (ex-political detainees, ex-mental patients, and ex-convicts) and non-stigmatized job applicants. It was hypothesized that ex-detainees would be discriminated against in similar fashion to the other stigmatized groups. Results suggested that although significantly more respondents were prepared to employ the non-stigmatized applicants, no such differences were found regarding salaries people were prepared to pay. Using employment discrimination as a criterion, ex-political detainees appear to be stigmatized in the same manner as ex-mental patients or ex-convicts.