Saturday 25 July 09:50 - 11:20

Hall: 03 - Volta

Chair and Presenter: Rajan Indhushree

Division: Division 3: Psychology and Societal Development

We are living during a time in which our stories are judged, and our identities are assumed before many of us even speak. The broad brushstrokes of global isolationism are becoming more defined by the day. As populist and nationalist narratives gain popularity worldwide, "the term and the concept of isolationism are not consigned to the past anymore" (Elving, 2024). The truth of our individual and collective lived experiences forms the tension point in a growing mix of narratives that threaten to 'other' and marginalize those who challenge the prejudices and xenophobic views that have dampened the basic human right of authentic self-expression for countless people all over the world. Within this context, "collaborative autoethnography can be a valuable method for lived experience research that challenges power dynamics and subjectivities […] a safe space […] even amidst the sharing of difficult stories. (Hislop, et al. 2023) Using an autoethnographic account of three different professional contexts, clinical, educational, and mediated communication, this oral presentation will highlight the role played by stories and first-hand experiences in the lives of five women, with the intention of building bridges and encouraging the establishment of alliances between participants in each context. We argue here that before any professional communication takes place, it is first important to make space for the sharing of personal experiences, ensuring that those in dialogue feel seen and heard. This becomes particularly important when working with individuals from marginalised social groups whose voices are silenced and suppressed within mainstream communication practices. In analysing our own lived experiences as women from minoritized social groups, we will highlight the role stories and the sharing of lived experiences within a real or perceived 'safe space' play in bridging the gaps between different individuals and communities in increasingly atomised global social contexts.