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sanism

The social, legal, or institutional discrimination against individuals who are mentally ill/neurodivergent, or who may be considered "not sane" by society's standards. This can often cross over into ableism.

The term sanism was originally coined by Morton Birnbaum.

Some oppressive terms that reinforce sanist stereotypes: crazy, insane, psycho, retarded, dumb, mad house, mental case; misuse of medical terms such as OCD, bipolar, schizophrenic, autistic, etc.
Jesse: I can't attend college in person due to my social anxiety and depression, so I take my courses online.
May: That's ridiculous. Everyone dislikes going to school. Just suck it up.
Jesse: That's sanism.
by ThawahCawwey September 10, 2016
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Sanism

A system of assigning value to people’s minds based on societally constructed ideas of normalcy, productivity, desirability, intelligence, excellence, and fitness. These constructed ideas are deeply rooted in eugenics, anti-Blackness, misogyny, colonialism, imperialism, and capitalism. This systemic oppression leads to people and society determining people’s value based on their culture, age, appearance, religion, birth or living place, “health/wellness”, and/or their ability to satisfactorily re/produce, “excel” and “behave.” It also can lead to people criminalizing and incarcerating mad, neurodivergent, and Disabled survivors.
Today, we discussed the issue of sanism in the education system.
by MVm\M April 25, 2022
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Sanism

Prejudice, discrimination, oppression, or antagonism by an individual, community, or institution against a person or people based on their mental health condition, whether real or perceived.
Sanism is evident in the way society marginalizes people with mental health conditions, often denying them equal opportunities in employment and social participation.

Activists are raising awareness about sanism and advocating for more inclusive policies that protect the rights of those with mental health issues.

The therapist addressed the sanism present in the medical community, which often leads to a lack of respect for patients with psychiatric diagnoses.
by Ememento September 14, 2024
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Metaphysical Sanism, or Spiritism, is the systemic marginalization, pathologization, or persecution of individuals whose lived experience, perceptions, and sensitivities transcend dominant material, sensory, or rationals frameworks of realitiy.

It names the violence of disbelief, medicalization, and social exclusion imposed upon those who experience heightened energetic, psychic, or multidimensional awareness -- what some traditions call seers, empaths, shamans or mystics.
Discrimination against metaphysically divergent consciousness.
All of the psychiatric providers in the Western world are essentially equipped to promote Metaphysical Sanism (or spiritism) as there are no larger systemic or cultural frameworks agreed upon for supporting and enhancing spiritual emergence experiences in the collective worldview with dignity and humanity.
by New Earth Ambassador414 October 19, 2025
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sansmaeda

A pairing/ship between Nagito Komaeda from Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair and Sans the skeleton from Undertale. The characters are both very memeable so people have decided to ship them together. Also they both have many fangirls.
Sansmaeda is my favourite ship!

It's sansmaeda time!
by Pupseus August 22, 2018
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stanism

The belief that all living and non-living things are simply representations of one central being called STAN and that love and freedom can unite all representations. Believers often call themselves 'stanites' or 'stanists'.
Stanism keeps me from getting my homework finished. I just can't see the point in becoming anything else when we're all the same thing anyway!
by The Council of the 13 December 16, 2010
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Sadism

Finding great pleasure in another person's suffering; going so far as to inflict that suffering intentionally in pursuit of one's own pleasure.
Jeff's penchant for sadism reached new heights when he found his ideal subject and truly delighted in her torment.
by MadMan'sMadQueen October 15, 2017
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