lifestory

Lifestory refers to the narrative account of a person's life, assembled from memories, experiences, relationships, and events. In academic and literary contexts, lifestory is used as a form of life writing that centers an individual's interpretation of their own life or that of others as told to a narrator. The term often overlaps with autobiography and biography but emphasizes personal perspective, subjectivity, and the shaping of memory over time. Lifestory can be recorded in many formats, including oral histories, memoirs, diaries, photo-essays, and digital narratives.

Practitioners collect lifestories through interviews, written prompts, diaries, and archival materials. They may organize material chronologically or thematically, highlighting turning points, social contexts, and identity development. Lifestories are used to illuminate cultural or family history, to teach life-skills, and to preserve personal or community identities. In many settings, they support reflective practice, education, and therapeutic work.

Ethical considerations include informed consent, privacy, the potential for harm, and accuracy. Since lifestories depend on memory, they may be incomplete or biased; researchers and writers often triangulate sources or acknowledge limitations. Cultural sensitivity is important when representing others' experiences, particularly in multilingual or diverse communities. Digital publication raises issues about ownership, access, and long-term preservation.

In scholarship, lifestory methodologies are used in narrative inquiry and qualitative research to study identity, power, and social change. In museums and archives, life stories enrich exhibits with personal voices. In education, they can foster empathy and historical understanding by connecting students to individual life experiences.