SELF-ESTEEM AND PRODUCTIVITY. Incontinence is a major blow to self-image as the incontinent has been traditionally stereotyped in our culture as a less valuable or clearly degenerate human being of little or no productive and social value. In too many circles, it seems socially acceptable to ridicule or ostracize the incontinent. Some of this attitude and unconstructive bigotry prevails even among some of those who see themselves as humanitarians. While most North-Americans and West-Europeans find it acceptable to find commecrial ads displaying pictures of fashionable underwear in various magazines or on commercial television, some of them resolutely object to ads displaying hygienic diapers or pads or to persons who visibly carry their diapers to the checkout counter of the stores while shopping. According to them, these are to remain hidden, as a closet issue. In this context of ridicule and defamation, the incontinent members of our society feel socially vulnerable, somehow inferior, persecuted, and unsafe. Those who see themselves as inferior lack in self-confidence to participate in higher education and in the work force, particularly when they have to cope with a recurrent feelings of anxiety of being discovered as "incontinent". For example, some are afraid their plastic underpants will show at the back under their T-shirt when they bend over to pick up objects on the floor or that other employees will catch a glimpse of the disposable diapers in their purse or brief-case in work settings. Many of them resolve not to work at all or they dramatically reduce their participation in the work force to a bare minimum. The great merit of the educational charitable and nonprofit foundations such as the National Association for Continence (NAFC)  in the USA is their emphasis on destigmatizing incontinence. This is a great constructive and economic contribution to humanity because their action helps the incontinent to more safely and productively participate in the work force and the social life. As said by many great persons of our times, the greatest asset of any given country are potentialy its people, with their tremendous potential for constructive creativity and hard cooperative work. According to some estimates, more than 25% of persons in our society might suffer from urinary incontinence: it is important that they are allowed to partitcipate in social and employment activity to their fullest potential.
Incontinence is often associated with depression and may be a major contributing factor in some suicides, particularly of young single persons who feel excluded from dating or are prevented from dating by their own low self-esteem. In women, incontinence may be associated also with persistent anger that may be directed at the unsuspecting spouse and contribute to the family breakup. A major problem common to most incontinent persons is feeling unattractive and unduly embarrassed particularly when having to undress in diapers. After the onset of incontinence, many feel their life is over and not worth living. The emphasis on grey or hospital style garments for incontinence by most manufacturers also contributes to the pervasive feelings of being condemned to social isolation, doom, gloom, ridicule, dispair, discouragement, and fear or apathy.
Incontinence themes in contemporary movies in the USA:  The recent daytime show "Soul Food" includes, in the episode #21 and #22, scenes of the wife having to wear diapers due to a bladder problem and her discussions of the topic with her husband.   The producers have some descriptions of the show (all existing episodes) at:     http://www.sho.com/soulfood/
If you want to see one of the clips (the husband and wife discussing her diapers), and if you have the Real Player program on your computer (a program that can be downloaded free of charge from internet), then you can access the clip by coping the following net address into "open location" option in the "File" menue of the Real Player:
http://www.sho.com/realmedia/smil_rpm.cfm?filename=soulfood/season2/sf22_b