Continuing commentary: Revitalizing Shame: Some Reflections on `Changing Idioms of Shame: Expressions of Disgrace and Dishonour in the Narratives of Turkish Women Living in Denmark'

Abstract

Throughout many studies, shame is approached not solely as a personal or individual sentiment or emotion, but also as a collective social and cultural preoccupation. Many studies also have asserted that shame is best understood in terms of its assumed opposite, honor, for example, as represented in so-called 'honor/shame' complexes of certain regions such as the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Critical responses to these studies have included efforts to represent more balanced, multiple voices and perspectives concerning shame and related sentiments:for example, emphasis of women's viewpoints and more transcultural contexts. Mirdal's article contributes to these efforts.This commentary discusses some challenges of placing shame in wider contexts of broader concerns in cultural theory, moving toward more nuanced, processual and dynamic portrayals of cultural and social practices. Shame needs to be analyzed in terms of both intimate and subjective sentiments, on the one hand, and politics and domination, on the other. More nuanced analysis yields insights into modernity, thereby detaching analysis of shame from some previous tendencies to associate this sentiment solely with tradition and the past. This commentary also argues, however, that there remain semantic and pragmatic problems of intentionality and agency. Fundamental to understanding shame, therefore, is detailed analysis of its nuanced meanings, as well as its effects in different social encounters.In studies of culture and psychology, in particular psychological and social anthropology, there has been much attention devoted to a range of personal sentiments and social mores conventionally glossed asCulture & Psychology

Gender in culture-inclusive psychologies: A situated and selective mapping of historical and contemporary territories

“…A search for “gender” or “sex” in the abstracts of CP results in 14 hits, none of which is for the keyword “sex.” In eight of these articles, gender is a very marginal topic. The remaining articles address questions of gender identity (Ahmed, 2012; Bhatia, 2012; Traversa, 2012) and narration and gender (Mirdal, 2006; Rasmussen, 2007). Gender differences are not addressed; all five articles only deal with women’s identities, narratives, and roles.…”

Cultural identity and convergence on western attitudes and beliefs in the United Arab Emirates

“…Migrants are expected to acculturate and studies of acculturation have tended to focus on migrants who are expected to change gradually to conform to the norms of the society into which they have migrated. Much research has focused on migrants into western societies and the extent and speed of changes that occur for the migrants and their families (Budhwar et al, 2008; Malhi et al, 2009; Mirdal, 2006; Rasmussen, 2007). With a wider focus on multiculturalism, there has been some shift to considering the benefits of different multicultural policies and whether this impacts on the rate of adjustment (Berry et al, 2002).…”

Duelling with doctors, restoring honour and avoiding shame? A cross-sectional study of sick-listed patients’ experiences of negative healthcare encounters with special reference to feeling wronged and shame

“…It has also been argued that the honour culture could be understood in a much broader sense regarding shame-reactions of individuals and not solely families or clans 7. In a Nordic healthcare setting a common denominator for being classified as difficult was that these patients once had been wronged by healthcare staffs 8.…”