Poverty-related stigma is "extensive and deep-rooted" in Scotland and is "restricting educational attainment", according to a new report.
A report published by the Scottish Parliament's cross-party group on poverty found that bias against people in poverty affects their mental health and wellbeing and makes it harder for them to access the support they are entitled to.
The report also said that it lessens their educational chances, and makes policies designed to tackle poverty less effective.
Scottish Labour MSP and group convener Pam Duncan-Glancy said that the report shows that "the way people talk about poverty... has a clear impact on people on low incomes."
The group is calling for people who work with the public in Scotland to be trained about the reality of poverty, and for a strong stand against language and behaviour that stigmatises people on low incomes.
The report also recommends making education about poverty part of Scotland’s national curriculum for schools. This would project young people from its effects and giving them the tools and confidence to call it out and stand up against it.
Duncan-Glancy said: “Poverty is not the fault of people on low incomes, it is caused by an economy that leaves too many behind, and a social security system that doesn’t meet people’s needs. Despite this, people in poverty and on low incomes in Scotland are still blamed, they face prejudice and stigma, almost every day. That must stop.
“Our important inquiry has found that the way people talk about poverty matters, and has a clear impact on people on low incomes. That’s especially true when the people talking are politicians, people in the media, or those delivering the public services that we all rely on. It stops people accessing the help they need and grinds them down.
“It’s beyond time for everyone in Scotland to turn our back on these unjust attitudes and behaviours, and to call it them out when we come across it. We’ll be a better, fairer, more just society if we do that and we’ll consign poverty related stigma to the past.”
The Group has been carrying out an inquiry into the stigma associated with poverty in Scotland since January last year.
They heard evidence from people with experience of living in poverty and on low incomes.
One disabled participant told the Glasgow Disability Alliance: “It can be difficult if you have a hidden impairment – people think there is nothing wrong with you or you are ‘at it’.
"My adviser at the Department for Work and Pensions actually said ‘This is not a disability’.”
One 15-year-old school pupil told the charity Child Poverty Action Group: “Well, I think if all of your friends or people you know go to the after-school clubs, school trips, that kind of isolates you from them. You're singled out, you're not with them, just a spare person.”
Another 12-year-old pupil said: "They talk behind your back [about what you wear] and stand staring at you."
Duncan-Glancy added: "Everything we heard in this inquiry has highlighted that poverty-related stigma is extensive, and deep-rooted and works against everything we do to reduce poverty in Scotland.
"It is impacting people’s mental health and wellbeing, erecting barriers to accessing support, restricting educational attainment, and influencing the design and resourcing of policies that can tackle poverty.
“Now is the time to end it.”
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