#barrier2access — Masereka Foundation (@BMCFHealth) July 6 , 2012Interestingly, gender didn't cause a stark divide – with only one-fifth of both men and women thinking embarrassment was an issue, and only 23% thinking a sense of being controversial played a part.
I think for a number of reasons, like shame, guilt, embarrassment, thinking their behavior contributed to their victimization in some way (which we know isn't true), people do not report.
I hid the fact for some of the same reasons you talked about in your story, feelings of shame, embarrassment, thinking people wouldn't believe me.
Personally, I feel an overwhelming sense of embarrassment when thinking about pretty much anything I have said or done in my life.
Then, as the bus groaned ahead without me, I was overcome by feelings of guilt (for not trying to "save" the other passengers), embarrassment (for thinking that the poor guy — who was probably just hot, or cold, or tired — was a terrorist), and exasperation with the wait for the next bus to arrive.
The emotional effects can vary in intensity, but are generally persistent feelings of fearing that one might be judged, an avoidance of activities or social situations for fear of embarrassment, and thinking that you'll fail in social situations.
His parents, his alcoholic ex-wife (a former Miss Iceland) and his adolescent son erupt with embarrassment and disbelief, thinking only of themselves.
My aversion to feeding in public was so severe that I would even breastfeed before going to a breastfeeding support group, rather than risk the embarrassment of people thinking I was doing it wrong.
But, for the thinking parent, embarrassment is also leverage, as well as potential for high entertainment.
Other categories included avoiding embarrassment, focusing on symptoms (thinking frequently about the illness and its effects) and catastrophising (believing things were worse than they really were).
