Holding a Brave Space: Lessons from Reality Storytelling

Brave spaces can be understood to be anything from everyday life to spaces with ground rules and an agreement to have challenging conversations. Brave spaces are sometimes assumed to be at odds with free speech. However, since hate speech discourages the speech of those targeted, brave spaces may provide more freedom of speech overall. Reality storytelling shows, in which ordinary people share personal stories, often offer an intentionally or unintentionally brave space and encourage mostly uncensored speech. For this study, the author attended reality storytelling shows across the United States and interviewed participants of these shows, seeking to answer the question: How do reality storytelling shows establish and hold a brave space? Interview transcripts, field notes, and documents were analyzed through qualitative coding, and memos were made available to the public through a blog. Some shows state ground rules along the lines of “no hate speech” for storytellers and audience members and express a willingness to remove offenders. Even shows with no rules do not tolerate hate speech when it happens. In practice, those who transgress are not always removed. Unintentional offenders may be “called in.” Although educational, the process remains uncomfortable. Lessons from reality storytelling that may translate into other areas include these actions: leaders must be willing to take action to hold the space, the community should be explicit about consequences for transgressing norms, and all participants should truly understand how they might be called upon to be brave.