At Estorie Agency, we know we need to understand the impact of trauma to tell stories from a trauma-informed perspective. But so much more is involved! Below are several additional tactics we employ to ensure we are telling stories from a survivor-centric, trauma-informed perspective.
Understand Clients’ Goals
We always aim to get a clear sense of a client’s goal in telling a survivor’s story. For instance, is the client trying to increase fundraising, raise awareness, educate an audience, or attract their own clients or strategic partners? That goal will then inform which messages we need to create, which emotions we want to elicit, and which story is necessary to tell. Oftentimes the client does not need to publicize the abuses or traumas a person has suffered. Instead, they might be able to talk about how their organization helped a survivor or about stigmas associated with a certain type of injustice.
For example, me too posts survivor stories on their website. Terry, on survivor, tells his story via an audio clip. After hitting play, we hear a man explaining that he is survivor and then discussing shame and his refusal to be silenced. This aligns perfectly with the overarching message conveyed during the me too movement—to speak, to raise awareness about the prevalence of sexual violence. Terry did not share the details of his abuse, but his message was nevertheless incredibly powerful.
Know That Language Matters
We understand that our words matter, and we are careful about the language we use in telling survivors’ stories. For instance, using the term “victim” as opposed to “survivor” or “prostitute” as opposed to “commercial sex worker” have very different connotations. At Estorie Agency, we are constantly learning and are not afraid to talk to people directly impacted by injustice and abuse to educate ourselves about how to describe and label their experiences.
Be Transparent
We think it is critical to explain to survivors why their stories are needed and how the stories will be used and publicized. Transparency breeds trust. It is also the ethical way to behave.
Get Permission
We do not tell survivors’ stories without their permission. The only exceptions are when stories are non-identifying or combine elements of multiple survivor stories—but again, in non-identifying ways. We also believe that survivors should have the right to retract that permission at any point. This is critical because we never want to inflict further trauma on a survivor.
Ask About Confidentiality
When sharing a survivor’s story, it is necessary to find out whether they want to keep their identity confidential. And, if so, to honor that request.
Use Stories to Empower
Stories should lift people and society up. In telling survivors’ stories, we want to tell them in a way that empowers survivors, recognizing that survivors are leaders with unique experiences to share—and from which we can learn.
RAINN, billed as the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, publishes survivor stories on their website and offers visitors the option to request a survivor to speak, which really positions survivors as leaders and educators. The survivor stories are also framed to empower survivors.
Blanche’s story, for instance, shares details of her abuse as well as her journey to healing. The post describes how she looks back at her marriage and “can now recount the early signs of her husband’s abusive behavior.” The article also includes five words to describe Blanche: “ambitious,” “strong,” “determined,” “brave,” and “survivor.” And, in closing, Blanche gives advice to survivors who are considering disclosing their abuse. Blanche’s story really draws the reader in and showcases the important role of RAINN.