We need to talk about shame

Series

Illustration of a lone female figure stood in front of a background of concentric circles. She is holding up her arms against a swell of water approaching her from the lefthand side. The water surrounds her and washes away to the right. On the front of her torso are illustrations of internal organs, the stomach and heart. To her right her body is casting a large shadow against the background. The hues of the illustration are muted reds and blues.

Shame’s long shadow. © Eduardo Rubio for Wellcome Collection.

Shame is one of our most overwhelming emotions. It’s also something we rarely discuss. In this series of six essays, Lucia Osborne-Crowley explores what makes shame so powerful. Reflecting on her own experiences following a violent sexual assault, Lucia reveals what she has learned about where shame comes from, what it’s for and how it works. Determined to loosen the grip it has had on her life, she believes that being open about shame will limit its power.

Shame’s long shadow

What is shame and why is it so powerful? A violent sexual assault left Lucia Osborne-Crowley suffocated with shame, but she’s now determined to understand how this overwhelming emotion works.

Shame, condemnation and conscience

Where does shame comes from and what fuels it? Lucia Osborne-Crowley explores audience, gender and the difference between shame and guilt, asking if either can ever be useful.

How shame makes us sick

The fight-or-flight response can have long-term consequences for our bodies if left unchecked. Lucia Osborne-Crowley investigates how shame and trauma are connected, and how both can lead to chronic ill health.

Shame and how our bodies betray us

Embarrassment about our desires, bodies and bodily functions can silence us. Lucia Osborne-Crowley asks whether a low-level but constant sense of shame is stopping us getting the help we need.

Shame and the online free-for-all

Lucia Osborne-Crowley looks at how shame manifests online, where public humiliation is common and second chances all too rare.

Fighting shame by speaking out

Lucia Osborne-Crowley’s first instinct after being raped was to cover it up. Shame silenced her for ten years, but #MeToo gave her the courage to speak out.