My Journey to Ethical Storytelling
Storytelling is a powerful tool that helps raise awareness, connect, and build communities. The words we use and how we tell stories matter. We can cause more significant harm than good if we aren’t mindful of how we tell stories. I’ve spent years telling stories designed to achieve my outcomes and sharing photographs that highlight my perspective first.
I vividly remember the first time I thought through the impact of my stories and photos. Someone questioned why people of color who moved internationally were called immigrants and people from English-speaking majority countries were called ex-pats (regardless of the permanency of their move). I was struck by how language matters and committed to examining my storytelling more closely.
But it wasn’t as simple as flipping a switch. It was more a growing awareness that has developed and morphed over the years (and decades) as I have learned more and examined my immense privilege. I tend, by nature, to be an intensely private person. I personally do not love having my photo taken, especially without my permission. I don’t like details of my life being shared without my consent and would be furious to learn that someone was sharing intimate details of my life for their personal gain. It began to affect my story-telling journey. And while I’m sure many of my stories would not age well with the information we have today, I started sharing less freely and with more thought into the effects my storytelling might have.
When we lived in India, people would often crowd our family and take our photos without our consent. We had people secretly videotaping us for purposes unknown. While it was generally innocent intent, it felt invasive and icky. As I reflected on this and our non-profit work, I struggled to share any stories. It felt like I was perpetuating issues that went against my values. So I stopped. I refused to share stories and photographs unless they were mine. I knew there had to be a better solution.
Enter ethical storytelling. I saw this buzzy phrase floating around the internet for a few years, but didn’t pay it much attention. It wasn’t until we were doing coaching to start THR5VE that I heard about Ethical Storytelling and their pledge. This was an immediate sigh of relief.
Stories need to be told. How they are told matters. Someone had put in the hard work to set guidelines for proceeding.
We happily signed the pledge and agreed to become constituent- first, donor- second storytellers. That means we have had to pass on sharing great stories where we couldn’t get consent to share or if I felt that the story was sensationalized. It’s sometimes frustrating to get consent for stories or posts and then edit or change them before we publish them.
If you read nothing else, I hope you hear me when I say, “I’m doing this imperfectly!”. It’s not a box checked or perfect every time. As ethical storytellers, we will make mistakes, learn as we go, and have much room for improvement. But I am committed to ethical storytelling, apologizing, and fixing as much as possible when I get it wrong and learning in the process.
“How can I become an advocate for ethical storytelling?”
• Commit. Ethical storytelling is about listening, learning, and fostering respectful stories that elevate those we work with. Sign the pledge to be an ethical storyteller today at http://ethicalstorytelling.com/pledge/.
• Watch. Please pay close attention to the organizations you follow and support as they share photos and videos.
• Choose. If a photo or video does not promote dignity, do not repost it or share it on social media.
• Contact. Contact the organizations you follow and support to keep them accountable when you see something that does not promote dignity (THAT MEANS US!)
