In an age where the internet has rendered us all hyper-visible, how does shame play out in our public and private lives?
Shame is a powerful emotion and a potent social force. It can assert collective values, hold power to account, and uphold the social good – but shaming has also taken a dangerous new turn. Huge sectors of the economy are built to capitalise on our wishes to live up to certain ideals, targeting those – often the powerless and vulnerable – seen to be falling short. The shame associated with bodies, health, habits, money, and morals is a lucrative industry, and poised to amplify its efforts exponentially. What sustains the shame machine, and who profits from it?
From drug companies to social media platforms, renowned thinker and mathematician Cathy O’Neil explores how shame is manufactured and mined by industries that grow big when we feel small. By understanding how this type of weaponised shame operates, she argues, we can dismantle its toxic effects on us and turn it into the power to fight back.
Want to watch this event at RSA House?
For those wishing to gather with friends or colleagues to watch in-person, this event will be live-streamed on The Steps in The Coffee House on the day of the event from 13:00.
