Unlearning Shame: How We Can Reject Self-Blame Culture and Reclaim Our Power

Learn to identify—and combat—Systemic Shame, the feeling of self-hatred and disempowerment that comes from living in a society that blames individuals for systemic problems, with this invaluable resource from the social psychologist and author of Unmasking Autism.

Systemic Shame is the socially engineered self-loathing that says we are solely to blame for our circumstances. It teaches that our consumption is moral and personal choice is our only tool of change. Systemic Shame tells us that poverty is remedied by hard-working people pulling themselves up by their bootstraps, that marginalized people are responsible for their own oppression, and that massive global crises like climate change can be solved by switching to paper straws. When we inevitably blame ourselves for failing to do enough to combat structural injustices, we feel Systemic Shame.

But holding individuals solely responsible for big social issues is not effective and can be psychologically devastating. Social science research shows that shame blocks us from seeking out the support we need to change our actions. It disempowers and isolates us, discouraging us from trying to improve our communities and our relationships. Social psychologist Dr. Devon Price knows firsthand the destructive effects of Systemic Shame; he experienced shame and self-hatred as he grappled with his transgender identity, feeling as if his suffering was caused by his own actions rather than systems like cissexism. 

In Unlearning Shame, Dr. Price explores how we can deal with those hard emotions more effectively by introducing the antidote to Systemic Shame: expansive recognition, an awareness of one's position in the larger social world and the knowledge that our battles are only won when they are shared. He provides a suite of exercises and resources designed to combat Systemic Shame on a personal, interpersonal, and global level through rebuilding trust in yourself, in others, and in our shared future. 

By offering a roadmap to healing and a toolkit of actionable items, Unlearning Shame helps us reject hopelessness, build stronger communities, and achieve sustainable change and personal growth.