Dominant voice / Dominant story

This is not just about people speaking more than others in a group, but the underlying assumption of whose perspective(s) are dominating the framing of a conversation or activity. For example, an emphasis on a certain location in the world or an overuse of a simplistic narrative that obscures nuance and diversity. As a community manager it can be helpful to regularly ask whose voice(s) you are prioritizing, e.g., who is mentioned in a newsletter, who is invited to speak, how is a topic framed? Facilitators can ask people to “take space/make space” to ensure multiple voices are heard. See also Framing.

Citation: Center for Scientific Collaboration and Community Engagement. (2021) CSCCE Glossary: Inclusive Language in Community Building. Woodley, Pratt, Bakker, Bertipaglia, Dow, El Zein, Kuwana, Lower, Roca, and Santistevan doi: 10.5281/zenodo.5718783

Categories: Inclusive language
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