Representations, forbidden representations, and the unrepresentable: creating visibility for mapping emancipatory and...

This article illustrates how different meanings are attested and contested in representations, forbidden representations, and the unrepresentable. Reflecting on real-life events and from a critical perspective, this analysis illustrates how shared representations and their language penetrate into spaces that we call reality and that these representations, forbidden representations, and the unrepresentable have profound influence on people's daily practices. Because of the influence these representations have on the health and well-being of individuals, there is a need for the development of multidimensional, interdisciplinary, and integrated approaches to care. Discourse promoting awareness of a critical representation perspective and the importance of practicing affirmative, emancipatory, and transformative nursing praxis for social justice should be included.