6.3 Narratives as a form of power

Oumarou Hega Nourrath a slam artist and coordinator of the NGO Debbo'arts, organises festivals and debates in Niger that bring together young girls from all regions of the country to discuss a range of iddues affecting women's wellbeing.

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Oumarou stands in a recording studio in front of a microphone. She wears headphones and smiles as she sings.

Oumarou Hega Nourrath a slam artist and coordinator of the NGO Debbo'arts, organises festivals and debates in Niger that bring together ...

There are two aspects of narrative that are important for changemakers in their influencing.

The first is how changemakers can use story-telling techniques in their messaging to motivate people to action, as we have seen in the previous examples.

The second relates to the way different groups across cultures and nations interpret events or reality and shape them into truths, beliefs, ideologies and perceptions of what is right or wrong. These have a direct impact on people’s actions, behaviour and the establishment of social norms. These narratives are a form of invisible power, which we discussed in Unit 3.

Narratives are made up of many stories, representations of knowledge, tweets, visuals, videos, memes, online content, offline conversations, interviews and speeches that help keep deeply held ideas about society and people in place. Dominant narratives help to legitimise existing power relationships and make them seem normal, natural or correct. They can support us to feel connected, or like an outsider. They can keep things staying the same, and they can also drive change.

Social justice and women’s rights activists and organisations are increasingly focused on creating alternative narratives to challenge those that impede change both at the policy level and in people’s attitudes and behaviours. For example, a dominant narrative of women’s informal and unpaid care work as not having economic value can be challenged with an alternative that shows it as work that makes a vast contribution to national economic prosperity and societal wellbeing, and is the responsibility of all to invest in.  

As changemakers, we can reinforce or challenge narratives, and we can contribute to and even create new narratives that align with the change we wish to see. Connecting with people who are different to us and engaging with diverse perspectives can help create those new narratives. As always, the power we derive from collective action, working with others, can provide strength and legitimacy to our call to change.