Stigma power, race and public accountability: an exploration of the hard lockdown of public housing in Melbourne

This study explores the intersection between stigma and accountability in the context of a disaster. We draw on the notion of stigma power to explore the COVID-19 pandemic-related hard lockdown of nine public housing towers in Melbourne, Australia, in July 2020. We investigate how stigma is implicated in the construction and operationalisation of systems of public accountability in relation to this disaster. The study adopts a qualitative approach and data is collected from secondary sources (including the Victorian Ombudsman’s report, media reports and social media posts) and 16 in-depth interviews with residents and a wide range of stakeholders. Our findings highlight the complexity of stigma which attaches to public housing and its residents and shows how stigma is drawn upon to create an image of residents as a danger to the public who are not owed care and accountability but rather need to be controlled, isolated and made to account for themselves. The study also shows how residents demonstrate care and accountability to themselves through resistance and how resistance to stigma drives the demand for accountability. This study is original as it provides new insights into the intersection between stigma and accountability particularly during times of crisis.

What is it about?

This study looks at how stigma and accountability interact during a disaster, specifically focusing on the COVID-19 lockdown of nine public housing towers in Melbourne, Australia. It examines how the stigma attached to these housing residents affects the way public accountability systems are established and implemented during this crisis. The research relies on both previous reports, including those from the Victorian Ombudsman and media articles, as well as 16 in-depth interviews with residents and various stakeholders. The findings reveal the complicated nature of the stigma surrounding public housing and its residents. It shows that this stigma is often used to portray these individuals as threats to the public who don’t deserve care and support but instead need to be controlled and isolated.

Why is it important?

This study is important because it highlights the detrimental effects of stigma on public accountability systems during crises like the COVID-19 lockdown, particularly for vulnerable populations in public housing. By uncovering how this stigma shapes perceptions and responses, it emphasizes the need for more equitable and compassionate approaches in disaster management and support for marginalized communities.