Made to feel embarrassed, guilty, or disgraced; or feeling shame after doing something wrong.
From Old English 'scamu,' a Germanic word related to 'skin' or 'to cover,' suggesting the idea of wanting to cover yourself or hide from shame. The emotion of shame is deeply rooted in human nature and reflected in ancient languages.
Shame is one of the most powerful emotions because it's literally about wanting to disappear or cover yourself—every human culture has this emotion, which suggests shame has been keeping humans in line for thousands of years.
Shame has been historically weaponized against women regarding sexuality, appearance, and family roles. Double standards enforce shame on women far more intensely than men for identical behavior.
Avoid shame language in discourse; use 'accountability' or 'responsibility' instead. Recognize gendered power dynamics in shame narratives.
["accountable","responsible","held to standards equally"]
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