Reintroducing stigma

The article argues that no society is neutral on moral questions, since every system of choice shapes behavior, and that stigmas are needed as guardrails against harmful choices. It cites the claim that children in fatherless homes are ten times more likely to experience abuse or neglect than those with fathers, and it notes that stigma around out-of-wedlock births has eased. Rob Henderson is quoted criticizing the view that unhappiness stems from social judgment rather than the behaviors themselves. The author holds that stigmas cannot be removed, only transferred to other behaviors, and asks how to balance stigma enforcement with a marketplace of ideas.