Disability and the dialectics of social shaming

The paper intends to explore two distinct but related philosophical ideas about the role of shame in ideas of fairness as related to identity formation and social inclusion/exclusion. First, shame as an emotion which reflects the subject’s internalisation of social values, for example, views about what is ‘right and wrong’/’ideal and non-ideal’/’normal and abnormal’. Second, shame as an emotion which reflects the way other people view the subject, derived from a ‘public gaze’ that produces shame via being seen as ‘different/an outsider’, but which can then lead to socially exclusion. The main argument is that shame, while has obvious negative connotations in matters relating to social justice, can also, against expectations, also have positive connotations. Regarding the former negative connotations, shame can limit a person to a particular social category which is judged as ‘lesser than’ or ‘non-ideal’. This judgement then ‘legitimates’ social exclusion/social injustice for a person who is a member of a group that is deemed ‘shame-worthy’. Regarding the latter positive connotations, shame can be used as an effective ‘social barometer’ to gauge and expose the way individuals and groups are judged according to certain social standards. However, this exposure then provides a platform for critiquing and resisting social and cultural systems which socially oppress and exclude. Moreover, in solidarity with others experiencing similar ‘shaming’ social judgements, this resistance is also liberating for members of socially excluded groups.