Chronic Shame: Emotional Navigation Through Segregation, Migration, and Ethnic Phobia

Abstract

This article explores the experience and implications of shame among migrants and refugees, illustrating how societal attitudes, particularly anti-Muslim and anti-Caucasian sentiments, perpetuate feelings of exclusion and self-depreciation. Utilizing the author’s personal narrative as a refugee, it unveils how negative stereotypes and the mass media’s portrayal of people from the North Caucasus in Russia contribute to a “them vs. US” mind-set. This division fosters a social environment where Caucasians and Muslims feel alienated, not only by their visible ethnicity but also through systemic oppression. Shame emerges as a crucial emotion for those stigmatized due to their ethnic or religious backgrounds, underscoring the need for more inclusive societal attitudes that recognize the diverse contributions of all cultural groups. The article argues that shame is not an individual failing but a consequence of broader social and political narratives that marginalize entire communities, pointing toward the necessity of acknowledging and addressing these issues to foster a more understanding and unified society.