I have been working on an article about the links between sexual abuse, self-injury, substance abuse and suicide. Its content is heavy. So heavy that I am very mindful about how to articulate it in a way which still moves the reader, but without being so overwhelming that the reader is left with a futile sense of despondence.
Part of the reason the material is so compelling is not simply because of what these young people experienced, but because of the vulnerability they shared in telling me these stories.
I've been thinking a lot about vulnerability lately. I've been trying to convince a student that being vulnerable is a much stronger indicator of healthy - well, at least highly matured - emotional responses than is a toughened exterior. She's yet to be convinced.
I won't elaborate on this anymore here - I will write a post about later. Right now I need to go for a run. Christmas is a bit of a strange time here and working on this article throughout probably hasn't helped the situation.
To give an indication of the gravity of the topic, here's a page of my notebook:
To not end on such a depressing note, here's a picture of a loaf of brioche I baked. (Yes, it's irrelevant, but at least it's light-hearted. Just call it a non-sequitur?)
4 comments:
Kat you need to change blog platform! I wrote another comment and then it just stopped responding when I tried to edit. I agree with you that being vulnerable is an achievement of maturity. Problem with trying to tell others about this is that its very hard to understand or appreciate this truth until you have lived it yourself. When you are still trying to protect yourself from the blows inflcted by others, putting on a tough face feels like the most sensible strategy.
Yeah I know Blogger is crap - it's on my to do list but I probably won't get to it until PhD is done.
Agree with you entirely about the difficulty in teaching others that vulnerability is okay. That is the exact sentiment I am trying to convey. It also has come up in the PhD - especially with the young men. When I failed to reinforce the machismo, and gave them a space in which vulnerability could be expressed and nurtured, they opened up and often just cried their eyes out. Ir was really moving.
Your strength to study this is inspiring. Stay strong.
Thanks, Bron - that was just what I needed x
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