THE POWER OF A NARRATIVE 

The ability of stories and collective voices to contribute to robust change makes one wonder if domination and excessive control remain the only potent forces of power, prompting a deeper consideration of how we might expand our traditional conceptions of power. 

When considering power, visions of authority, domination, and control envelopes the term. Historically, war, bloodshed, human brutality, and the domination of territory or people have predominantly portrayed what we deem as "power." The figures we quote as "powerful" today are often remembered under the titles of authoritarian or dictator; those with enough dominance over a population or land. However, alongside this flawed form of substantial power also blooms the power of leaders who carry out acts of good that lead to prosperity for their people, which must be acknowledged and declared potent. Yet, these leaders' tales of domination or exemplary leadership would remain unknown to the world, a withered candle without the light of storytelling. Does power also exist within stories? And if so, does power stem from collective voice rather than sole authority? 

These questions held a significant presence throughout the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), where matters of inclusion, empowerment, social movements, and, potently, stories were shared and discussed. Speakers addressed the capacity of collective action and stories to mold collective thought, form changes at the level of culture, and call on societies to redefine what they deem acceptable within the human rights sector. 

During the Commission, the concept of power was consistently questioned and redefined; however, despite the array of reconceptions proposed, the elements of storytelling and collective voices glowed with prominence in each definition. During one of the many CSW side events hosted at the BIC office, the empowering "Our Story is One" panel analyzed the power of storytelling and the amplification of unified voices. The event memorialized the persecution and execution of 10 young Baha'i women 40 years ago in Iran solely due to their faith. Now, these women have a lasting legacy rather than a silent tragedy, as the sharing of their stories and the collective voices of all have honored their memory and inspired the voices of today to assume new forms of action throughout their own lives. 

During the panel, speakers discussed the immense power of these women's stories, conveying how their narratives have unified the international community and developed an empowering campaign, drawing awareness to the Iranian government's persecution of Baha'is. These women's stories, and others like them, are our true sources of power, holding strength far more potent than those of authority and control—the power of voices harboring stories to share. This event left me hopeful and void of the silence youth often bear. I sensed the stories I and others had to convey and the rich blooming of unity and international accord deriving from these tales. 

As part of humanity's collective, we are gifted with the perpetually fruit-bearing beauty of voice to eloquently express thought, poetry, and, more notably, story. As we look beyond this year's session of CSW, let us celebrate the power of storytelling and reconceptualize the components of human behavior we deem powerful, far beyond the short-standing acts of authority and domination.

 

 Maya Alexis Mele is an intern at the Baha’i International Community United Nations Office