Storytelling in vulval health research: Destigmatising through art and lived experience
Following on from the launch our short film - Living with Vulval Lichen Sclerosus - created with Dr Sophie Rees – we wanted to create an event where participants would hear from researchers, storytellers and artists working to destigmatise gendered health experiences.
While (conventional) health research often finds its home in academic journals and conferences, when weaving in real life narratives and creativity, we can connect to audiences in a more emotional way, encouraging empathy to help reduce stigma, and increase understanding.
At this workshop participants made their own collage vulva, inspired by one of the techniques used in our film, viewed other films striving to educate and chip away at stigma, listened to poetry and talks, and were in space with others interested in these themes and ideas.
The event was also supported by Medical Herstory - a not-for-profit organisation on a mission to eliminate sexism, shame and stigma from health experiences, through educating and empowering patients, doctors, and the public through storytelling, skills-based workshops, research, and advocacy campaigns.
“Woven Ink are fantastic to work with. They really connected with, and cared about the research findings we were using to create the short film. Their creativity and commitment to doing the words justice made it an absolute pleasure to see it evolve.
Jess put her heart into the video, and the imagery ended up as powerful as the words.
Thank you, Jess and Isolde!”
— Dr Sophie Rees, Senior Research Associate, University of Bristol
