Public Shaming

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Is activism being confused with humiliation tactics? And is internet and social media adding on to the public shaming?

Most of the humans at one point of time would have been victimized to shaming or have shamed someone for being different. Public shaming can occur for doing an act the public doesn’t accept of you or media turning the rumors against you into the truth. Public shaming is a form of “punishment” for someone who dishonors or disgraces any person especially I a public space

Monica Lewinsky: bad side of public shaming

In 1998 when the affair between Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky came to light, it became a piece of meat to the newspapers and news channels. Following this Monica Lewinsky had to face a huge backlash from the public and media for having an affair with Bill Clinton.

On the other side we see that Bill Clinton was fined with $90,000 by Wright and was immediately impeached and just as immediately he was acquitted. Bill Clinton later did his second term as America’s President.

But Lewinsky had to face the public’s wrath for 20 years after the incident. She became a joke and few prominent personalities made vulgar remarks on her. She was kicked out of the house she was living in and it became difficult for her to get another job. She has been featured in 125 or more rap songs. In all most all the songs her name was a synonym for vulgar words and her actions are glorified and mocked upon in the songs. Even rapper Nicki Minaj mocked Monica in her song.

But what we fail to see is that why only Lewinsky? Even Bill Clinton was involved in the act but he wasn’t even shamed. Is it because Monica Lewinsky was a woman? Or is it because Bill Clinton is a ‘President’?

Tucker Carlson: good side of public shaming

When an audio clip of Carlson from a radio show surfaced to the public where he compares women to dogs, it wasn’t quite pleasant for them. In a radio show it is heard that Carlson supports a man who was accused of sex crimes in relation to a polygamist cult, that allegedly arranged marriages between adult men and underage girls. Quoting his words, “If it weren’t my daughter I would love that scenario”.

He has not only supported alleged rapists but also called out Supreme court Justice Elena Kagan as an unattractive woman and that he feels sorry for unattractive women and no one deserves that. In short he is a Xerox of Trump.

He was called and shamed by feminists all over America and his talk show’s TRP fell down immediately affecting his career. He has faced backlash ever since and still continues to make nasty remarks without fail.

It’s up to the public for what we shame people for, we shall think and not just do something to be one among many.