The Hierarchy of Trauma

Hierarchical Trauma: Dismantling Barriers in the Face of Media Narratives and Propaganda

The ever-evolving professional space of LinkedIn, makes me ponder upon some points, which raise very valid questions. What is professionalism and who defined what should shout out professionalism. Is real life not professionalism or do real life events end at the entrance to the workplace?

It's clear our perceptions and reactions to global events are profoundly influenced, and sometimes manipulated, by powerful narratives. Heart-to-hearts with peers, scholars, and colleagues further illuminated this, and I felt compelled to explore a phenomenon I've termed "hierarchical trauma".

Hierarchical Trauma - What is this?

This concept is neither straightforward nor comfortable. It's the unconscious ranking of tragedies, a product of years of conditioning. Some global events receive the outpouring of grief they warrant, while others, equally devastating, don't pierce the collective consciousness with the same intensity. This hierarchy determines which stories deserve our empathy and which can be relegated to the shadows.

Colonial Legacies: Gagging and Selectivism

Derived from historical imbalances, two deeply rooted phenomena reinforce this hierarchy. These are explored in further detail below:

Colonial Gagging: The remnants of a time when select voices were stifled because they went against the dominant narrative. In today's world, this translates to the suffocating fear professionals feel when speaking up against certain injustices, wary of potential backlash. My inbox has been full with fellow professionals expressing solidarity, but scared to speak up and publicly state they oppose the mainstream narrative.

Colonial Selectivism: The act of highlighting certain causes because they're acceptable, often given the nod of approval through Meta issuing badges for people to put on their profile while neglecting others. This often plays out in our professional spaces, where advocacy is sometimes influenced more by trends than by genuine concern.

The Role of Media and Propaganda

Media, in its multifaceted forms, plays a pivotal role in shaping our understanding of trauma and its hierarchy. Often, the sheer volume of a story's coverage can determine its perceived significance, while other equally important events are downplayed or omitted entirely.

Propaganda, too, acts as a lens, skewing our perspective. By presenting a version of events that aligns with a specific agenda, it subconsciously dictates our emotional responses, solidifying the trauma hierarchy.

Task: if you want to see the propaganda machine well-oiled, simply switch on the TV, go to a news channel, and silently observe.

Who has the power?

Who is the dominant force?

Who is being silenced?

Whose words and actions are being misconstrued?

I have so much more to say on this in my next article.

Towards a Human-Centred Approach

To start dismantling these barriers, we must:

Critically Analyse Media Consumption: We should diversify our news sources, seeking out narratives from the ground up and from those directly affected.

Foster Open Dialogues: Open and genuine discussions can be transformative. Listen for the sake of listening, not just to respond. Platforms like LinkedIn should be sanctuaries for these dialogues, without fear of professional repercussions. Do not be discriminatory, keep your mind open, and create a psychologically safe safe to foster open dialogues, where views may be different to yours.

Champion Every Cause: Support those who consistently champion various causes, not just the popular ones, and create an environment where every tragedy is acknowledged without bias.

Critically review the lens you view things from: There are no sides, where there is a mass tragedy, except the humanitarian side, to dismantle long-term oppression. Change the lens you see the situation. Acknowledge your biases, begin reading and engaging wider than the Tabloids, and begin the journey of education.

We live in a highly interconnected global community, we have a responsibility to ensure our professional interactions and advocacies aren't coloured by biases and hierarchies, especially ones rooted in long-standing historical injustices. By understanding the nuances of hierarchical trauma and actively working to dismantle the structures that uphold it, we can aspire to a more human-centred, empathetic, and equitable world.

Solidarity with all striving for justice and peace.

For deeper insights or a platform to discuss further, please reach out. Feel free to connect, comment, or share critical feedback.

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