scarlet letter

I thought I'd be wearing a scarlet letter or something.

He again extended his hand to the woman of the scarlet letter.

"The bad news is that for women it's still a scarlet letter."

"That sort of scarlet letter will never go away," she said.

"It was as if I were wearing a scarlet letter."

"I walk around with a big scarlet letter on my forehead."

Some people wear their lack of a degree as if it's a scarlet letter, she said.

"I have a kind of scarlet letter on my forehead," he said.

"No one is out from under this once they get labeled - it's the new scarlet letter."

But in good earnest now, mother dear, what does this scarlet letter mean?