The Identity Work of Torture Scars

Scarring can be understood as a visible bodily entity or a metaphorical internal experience. Each type has liminal qualities, changing in form or intensity over time. The bearer may conceal scarring from others or may share stories that hold varied emotions, from horror or disgust to pride or self-esteem. For people who have survived torture or other forms of violence, and are seeking asylum, scars may take on particular additional meanings as objects that are put to work in official decision-making processes. In this Sociology in Action article, I explore multiple meanings of scars following torturous violence, with a particular focus on asylum-seeking contexts. I contribute to literature on identity and on the narrative potential of scars in survivors’ recovery, as a means of narrative connection between a traumatic past and desired future, in lives that are disrupted or unstable. I consider the work of performing the consistency required in an asylum claim alongside the sense-making that might be achieved through narratives, within dynamic constructions of identity over time. Future narrative research could explore how survivors of torturous violence develop a coherent sense of self while navigating these conflicting strands of identity work, and the impacts of those who scrutinise or support them.