Why Social Design is Failing to Address Successfully Social Change?

We are passing our trauma to the next generation, doing far from enough to mitigate the strong influence of traumatic experiences that afflict us today.

Trauma, a common human experience, yet, so powerful, that spreads and transfers across generations. Non-stop. This kind of transfer is called “intergenerational trauma”, a problem obstructing and limiting sustained attention to address complex human crises:

Systemic sexism, discrimination, forced displacements, climate change, devastating global pandemics… the list goes on and on. Problems that require urgent and sustained attention.

While intergenerational trauma isn’t new to human experience, research only began until the 1960s. Yet, understanding intergenerational trauma can help people working toward social change solve problems more effectively.

“My dear father, died when I was very young. Since, my beloved mother had it difficult with me as she thought something was not okay by her. All I wanted to achieve was personal autonomy and independent thought.” Viviana Selene.

—--

Dedicated to all women aspiring personal autonomy and independent thought, particularly, in cultures where women are raised to be subservient. Special thanks to Beatrice Maione for sharing with our production crew over the systematic abuse her grandmother endured.

This research is carried out as part of my current social artistic residency Baltan Laboratories.

#socialchange #socialdesign #intergenerationaltrauma #research #positivechange