Our Shaming Culture
Could shaming and
bullying be the reason why suicide is the second leading cause of death among
young people between the ages of 15 and 24?
For Every suicide, there are 25 others who have thought about committing
suicide.
I recall at time in the sixties when women’s liberation was
at its peak. A popular TV commercial for
Enjoli
Perfume was advertised as the 8 hour perfume for a 24 hour woman. The
lyrics began, “I am woman, and I can make the bacon, bring it home and fry it up in a
pan, and never, never let you forget you’re s a man.” Like me, everyone soon
believed women could do it all, and that those who didn’t work, were less than,
taking on the label,”Just a homemaker.”
Recently I came
across a Ted Talk, Monica
Lewinsky - The Price of Shame . As a
woman I was touched by Monica’s 1998 story. Monica’s was the first story to
ever hit the internet and mushroom into a global incident in less than a
heartbeat. Her humiliating and now global
story became almost lethal for Monica.
At the vulnerable age of 22, as a
woman whose only mistake was she fell in love with the wrong man, was now a
product of the internet and a new international market was born – Cultural
Shaming.
Cultural shaming now touches every part of the universe,
from a personal level of a bully in the school hall, all the way our top political
leaders telling us how we should feel about any particular aspect of humanity.
At a talk show in LA, Michelle Obama spoke to a full audience of women, eagerly
waiting to hear her message. The former
first lady proceeded to voice her concern for “Us,” as women.
She addressed the excited crowd who readily hung on every
word of her artfully prepared monologue. Michelle had their full attention
and admiration as she informed them
they were misguided and have no confidence or self-esteem because otherwise,
they would have voted for Hillary Clinton for President.
The audience applauded with fervor. Did they
accept Michelle’s message that if only they had voted the Hilary ticket their
lives would be better, and they would be confident, full of self-esteem and
know the way?
Suicide is a serious problem with our young people and
focusing only on the bully in the school halls is not the answer. The problem
is global and will be difficult to contain because it is a valuable and profitable
market. 
What is the answer? The answer is never, ever demeaning someone or some group. Empathy and Positivity is always the cure. The problem today is there is no profit in these commodities.
My answer? Only associate with those who believe in you, those who will root for you even when you are drowning in the mire of your own mistakes. Expect no less from those around you. Michelle Obama may have served as first lady, but brazen doubt and criticism is not the path to change.
Be sure to check out Sportster's upcoming blog, The Cat's Perspective On Reading, Writing And Life . Sportster philosophizes on the issue as only he can.
Mark May 29th on your calendar so you won't miss his upcoming blog titled, Making mistakes makes us greater.
Thank you for listening.
Coming Soon
The Grieving Gift, my
most recent book, portrays a young girl’s experience of becoming pregnant In
the Bible belt of the Midwest during the early 60’s at the age of 16, when
American values labeled you damaged goods and religion stamped you as a sinner.
The character, Janice, suffered the bullying and shaming
attitude of society and religion,
yet manages to withstand as a single parent in a world she doesn’t understand, because she
had not been raised to know that her pregnancy was a moral sin
and legally wrong. Perhaps she survived only because the internet did
not exist. Her shame was limited to the public and religious community of the
small town where she lived.
Oh, and don’t forget!! Readers’ reviews keep writers motivated.
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Sportster's Blog: The Cat's Perspective Of Reading, Writing And Life
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The metoo# movement is helping women to stand up against predatory behavior from men in authority. No matter the culture, women are burdened by shame when they are taken advantage of in these ways. Clinton or Trump, or Hollywood, or my rich uncle, this stuff happens. I would the link to Michelle's talk. Can you share it? Also, do you have any sources linking shaming to suicide?
ReplyDeleteSeems to me that shaming and bullying have been there since time immemorial.
ReplyDeleteWhat's different I think is the culture aggrandizing victimhood... leading to government as the protector of all. That is definitely a path to destruction.