Kristina Miklavic: Shame as a Norm Regulator for Gendered Subjectivities
The notion of shame is the main focus in Kristina Miklavic's talk.
Main content
My presentation deals with the notion of shame and how it operates as a norm regulator for expressing masculinity and femininity, and, thus, forms constructions of ideal gendered subjectivities. As an individual experience, shame is mostly thought of as a negative emotion that debilitates and contributes to suffering. Building on Taylor and Bartky's notions of shame, Manion's conception of shame as a potential positive notion for the individual and the transformations it can instigate, and Foucault's notion of power, I examine how productive notions of shame can be understood as subjugating, but also potentially transformatory for the indidivual. Further, using the work of Lethinen, I consider how these shame experiences are gendered and, consequently, provide for gendered transformations.