Museums put trigger warning on new training booklet about trigger warnings - because it mentions addiction, natural disasters, slavery and poverty
A group of museums have put a trigger warning on a new training manual about trigger warnings because it mentions 'sensitive' topics like poverty and the slave trade.
The 'Trigger Toolkit' aims to foster a new generation of leaders that can tackle the challenge of 'reducing the likelihood of an emotional trigger occurring'.
But ironically, the guide has slapped its own bright red warning on one of its first few pages, which reads: 'The following two pages contain potentially triggering content.'
The booklet was released by Museum Development North - a partnership funded by Arts Council England between York Museums Trust, the Manchester Museums Partnership, Cumbria Museum Consortium and North East Museums - and it will help staff during their training.
The pamphlet states it is 'intended to support organisations working across the sector to take a practical approach to preventing, responding to and managing a triggering event within a training session', adding: 'It supports and can be part of an organisation's tools and training for becoming more equitable, diverse and inclusive.'
According to the guide, emotional triggers are likely within the heritage sector because staff may have to review collections that include 'racist and intolerant artefacts' that could trigger childhood trauma and spark memories of 'offensive language and name calling.'
Ironically, the guide has slapped its own bright red warning on one of its first few pages, which reads: 'The following two pages contain potentially triggering content'
It also teaches managers how to support those who have become triggered and follow up with them to make sure they have the appropriate support.
Topics discussed which could be seen as potentially triggering include modern day slavery, hate speech, debt, divorce, childbirth, miscarriages, violence and warfare, among others.
An end note adds: 'The tools and techniques shared in this toolkit are collated with the intention of supporting individuals and organisations to prepare and deliver training with greater consideration of equity, diversity and inclusion.
'These are issues central to modernising the heritage sector, and if addressed with intention, compassion, and care, will grow the reach and impact of organisations' cultural offering.'
Mental health policy expert Liz Main, who has studied trigger warnings, said: 'On balance I think trigger warnings can be a good thing as they can stop someone from seeing something that may upset them.
'However the fact that the booklet is about trigger warnings would indicate to staff that there may be emotionally distressing content in there.'
Museum Development North was contacted for comment but has not responded.
The pamphlet comes at a time when, in the last couple of months alone, cultural relics slapped with trigger warnings include George Orwell's 1984, Shakespeare's Hamlet, and an iconic BBC show.
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