the concept of unwanted identities. Over the course of the interviews, twelve categories emerged as areas in which women struggle the most with feelings of shame. These categories are appearance and body image, motherhood, family, parenting, money and work, mental and physical health, sex, aging, religion, being stereotyped and labeled, speaking out and surviving trauma. What makes us vulnerable to shame in these areas are the “unwanted identities” associated with each of these topics.
