Honor and Shame The New Testament World by Bruce J. Malina

Honor Honor = claim to one’s own worth + social acknowledgement of that worth Gained in two ways: –Ascribed birth to honorable parents recognition by an honorable person –Acquired Public challenge and response –Between social equals Zero-sum: what one person gains (x), another person loses (y) (x+y = 0)

Men and women Male honor: manliness, courage, authority –Authority over women in his household –Protection of women in his household Female: sexual exclusiveness, purity, modesty –Embedded in her male authority’s honor –Requires male support and protection

Shame Positive meaning: sensitivity about one’s reputation –Shame is symbolized by the female Sensitivity to humiliation, being “stripped” or exposed publicly The woman who is sensitive to these things is, ironically, honorable –Shameless = not sensitive about one’s reputation or rules of social interaction The shameless woman, who has lost her shame, is dishonorable She makes her male authority dishonorable, because his honor involves protecting her shame