Words, shame linked

In response to Friday’s query about “Lexicon’s sexist examples,” Mary Collier of Beavercreek offers the following:

“Your column ties in with David Brooks’ ‘From the Right’ column on cultural shame versus cultural guilt. Brooks points out that in a shame culture, the only sin is to be unliked. The sexist words you mention used against women are a product of the shame culture and, to me, a moral lapse. It derives from insecurity among individuals who feel they must first belong to a group and praise their group in order to be ‘embraced and praised’ by their community. Right or wrong does not dominate the equation. Peer pressure shows up throughout adulthood and throughout our culture, including the presidential campaigns on both sides. Women are as guilty as many men in condoning sexist language and placing group association before morality.”