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Watching porn, and other things I am ashamed of
In photos
Being human comes with a lot of shame. Imagine being a woman. We carry a lot of shame for simply living in a patriarchal society.
The feeling of shame is internalized from the systems and culture we grew up in and we currently live in. For example, I grew up in Lebanon where the pressure is big on women being and looking perfect.
Photographer Jane Hu and I partnered up to bring some of these moments of shame to life. Why? Shame thrives on isolation. To break its cycle, we must share it, to realize we are not alone and by default shame will crumble.
“As a shame researcher, I know that the very best thing to do in the midst of a shame attack is totally counterintuitive: Practice courage and reach out.” — Doctor Brené Brown
These are things I am ashamed of in my identity of being an Arab queer woman.
1- Watching porn (aka my sexuality)
Stories in my head
1- My Arab community will think I am dirty
2- No other women watches porn
3- Porn is a man thing
4- I am bad for having sexual fantasies that are not heteronormative
