The Stigma of 'Weak'

Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, an era where people began to measure their worth based on their ability to work and provide for their families (note, this is a very masculine paradigm), people having a mental health experience have been labeled 'weak'. They may not be able to provide for themselves, and so they are viewed as less than those who can. In terms of the feminine stigmatization, women who were too outspoken or who did not fit into the paradigm of wanting to stay at home and care for a family and their male counterpart were seen as 'crazy' and often committed to asylums because of this lack of conformity. In terms of weakness, people having a mental health experience, including myself, are not weak. We are, in fact, incredibly strong. We deal with things and situations which others who have not had those experiences would probably struggle with. It's time to think about this stigma. If someone chooses not to work, does that indeed make them weak or less than? Does it diminish their worth as a human being? I would like to say no. Each individual, regardless of their mental health status, deserves dignity and respect. We all contribute so much by just 'being'; this is enough!