Our Ethics of Engagement

This is not a project that seeks to sensationalize harm, extract stories, or compress complex experiences into easily consumable narratives. It does not ask survivors to disclose, perform, or educate at the expense of their own safety or well-being. Participation—whether through art, conversation, or reflection—is always self-directed, and engagement is invited only at a scale that feels appropriate to each individual.

Instead, It’s Private encourages collective self-reflection. It asks how communities might begin difficult conversations without demanding exposure, urgency, or resolution. Silence, distance, and hesitation are not treated as failures here—they are recognized as realities shaped by history, culture, and survival.

The project is also not concerned with assigning blame to individuals or communities. Instead, it turns attention toward the systems, social norms, and unspoken agreements that allow harm to persist unchecked. By examining these structures—rather than isolating personal fault—the work creates space for accountability without simplification, and for change without spectacle.