How do Family Members of Offenders Internalize Stigma?:

Focus on Feelings of Shame

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore the process of internalization of stigma among offenders' families in Japan, focusing specifically on the feelings of shame. To understand the emotional aspects of offenders' families, interviews were conducted with seven family members and the data were analyzed based on the notion of “web of shame,” a theoretical framework constructed by Rachel Condry. Research to date has given insufficient attention to the family members of minor offenders. To fill this gap in the literature, the present study specifically focuses on the family members of minor offenders in Japan and seeks to explore how they experience and internalize stigma.

Inter alia, the study found that the intensity of shame among family members was influenced by their status within society prior to the crime, rather than the seriousness of the crime committed by their kin. As family members interacted with the police and other actors in the criminal justice system, they began to recognize the gaze of others on them as “families of offenders,” leading them to adjust to the changing circumstances in their lives. This study indicates that the degree to which family members experience shame and internalized stigma is influenced by their social status and experiences prior to the crime being committed.