The Fact
Narrative invalidation is repeated minimizing or dismissive framing that reduces the legitimacy or significance of a person's or group's documented experience. It can operate without denying that the event happened; instead, it changes what the event is said to mean or how much it is allowed to matter.
What This Means
“That happened” and “that matters” are separate propositions. A narrative can concede the first while systematically attacking the second.
Sources
- Native Americans – Context for Spiritual and Therapeutic Settings, “Narrative Invalidation.”