Shame On You, Shame On Me
Fairlady|May 2020
Public shaming is nothing new, really. In the old days you would have been locked in the town square stocks for minor transgressions like swearing or drunkenness, or been made to don a dunce cap for acting out at school. (Those were still around in some parts of the US as recently as the 1950s, believe it or not.) But the Monica Lewinsky scandal in the ’90s kickstarted a new form of online vigilantism that has only gathered strength with the advent of social media. In the two decades that have passed since her affair went viral, a culture of shaming and public humiliation has woven itself into the fabric of society, creating what Monica describes as ‘a mob of virtual stone throwers’.
Catherine French
Shame On You, Shame On Me

'I don’t even know how to begin to describe what it was. But to see my face on TV, to read my name in the newspaper? People have no idea what this has done,’ says Monica Lewinsky

in a 1999 interview, choking back tears. ‘That behind the name “Monica Lewinsky” there is a person, there is a family and there has been so much pain that has been caused by all of this. It was so destructive. It was so destructive.’

If you were too young to have watched the 1998 Monica Lewinsky scandal unfolding, you would almost certainly have seen the memes or wryly shaken your head at comedy skits at her expense. Her black beret became iconic, the symbol of a fallen woman torn to pieces by media that was fuelled by the boost of technology and the ability to spread news at a rate not yet witnessed before. ‘At the age of 22, I fell in love with my boss,’ says Monica, in her 2015 TedTalk, The Price of Shame. ‘And at the age of 24, I learnt the devastating consequences.’ She describes herself as ‘patient zero, the first to lose a personal reputation on a global scale, almost instantaneously’.

SPREADING LIKE WILDFIRE

In December 2013, 30-year-old senior director of corporate communications at InterActiveCorp Justine Sacco was on a flight to South Africa. Before her plane departed, she tweeted, ‘Going to Africa. Hope I don’t get Aids. Just kidding. I’m white!’

In July 2015, Walter Palmer, a US trophy hunter whose preferred weapon was a bow and arrow, wounded and later killed Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe.

This story is from the May 2020 edition of Fairlady.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the May 2020 edition of Fairlady.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM FAIRLADYView All
'DESIRE IS NOT WHAT MATTERS'
Fairlady

'DESIRE IS NOT WHAT MATTERS'

Emily Nagoski wrote the book on women and desire - literally. And then her own sex life dried up. Here's what a prolonged sex drought (and a load of research) taught her about maintaining intimacy in a long-term relationship.

time-read
9 mins  |
July/August 2024
'We have to tell HARD STORIES'
Fairlady

'We have to tell HARD STORIES'

Theatre director and playwright Yaël Farber is spending time in South Africa after her critically acclaimed run of King Lear at the Almeida Theatre in London. We chatted to her about the importance of the pursuit of truth.

time-read
6 mins  |
July/August 2024
THE WHY, THE WHICH & the wardrobe
Fairlady

THE WHY, THE WHICH & the wardrobe

We really got into it this month! Read on for more on the allure of a loosey-goosey jumpsuit, vintage-hunting and jingle-jangling jewellery, the best places to find quality African design and short-girl styling tips.

time-read
10+ mins  |
July/August 2024
LIFT your GAME
Fairlady

LIFT your GAME

Thought weightlifting was just for bodybuilders and powerlifters? Not so. In fact, 'lifting heavy shit' may be the secret to longevity, hormone regulation and mood for women through perimenopause and beyond.

time-read
8 mins  |
July/August 2024
TREATMENT PLAN ON YOUR MARKS
Fairlady

TREATMENT PLAN ON YOUR MARKS

Armed with a six-month programme from Dr Nerina Wilkinson + Associates, Jennifer Morin set about tackling her sun damage and melasma.

time-read
8 mins  |
July/August 2024
PLAYING YOUR CARDS RIGHT
Fairlady

PLAYING YOUR CARDS RIGHT

Here's how to get the most out of loyalty cards.

time-read
5 mins  |
July/August 2024
BIG SKY Country
Fairlady

BIG SKY Country

Namibia. Twelve friends, five vehicles, 4000 km, thirteen days. Eight punctures, one angle grinder. One martial eagle, one full moon, one ghost town. Plenty of top-quality braais, maybe not quite enough oysters... and the best time ever.

time-read
9 mins  |
July/August 2024
IS YOUR HOME MAKING YOU SICK?
Fairlady

IS YOUR HOME MAKING YOU SICK?

Leaks, damp and poor ventilation in old or poorly built new homes are being fingered for a growing health concern: mould.

time-read
7 mins  |
July/August 2024
HOW TO REALLY GET TO KNOW SOMEONE
Fairlady

HOW TO REALLY GET TO KNOW SOMEONE

The Korean word 'nunchi' describes 'the ability to be sensitive to other people's moods and thoughts'. It's an underrated skill that we seem to have lost.

time-read
9 mins  |
July/August 2024
How to write a memoir
Fairlady

How to write a memoir

Whether you want to share your experiences and insights with the world, leave a legacy or track pivotal experiences for yourself, writing your memoir can be a grand and worthwhile adventure. Here's some advice on how and where to begin.

time-read
7 mins  |
July/August 2024