We are members of a culture that fosters, then vilifies, addiction. Psychologist and activist Charlotte Sophia Kasl writes, “Patriarchy, hierarchy, and capitalism create, encourage, maintain and perpetuate addiction and dependency.” As we’ve discussed throughout this book, the shame web is baited with expectations that are based on rigid gender prescriptions. If you combine the power of these expectations with the “us and them” mentality discussed in the section on otherness and the influence of the media culture, I believe she is right. We turn to food, drugs, alcohol, sex and dependent
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