Abstract
This paper examines narrative methodologies as one approach to exploring issues of gender, education and social justice and, particularly, insights into “undoing gender”. It furthermore examines the possibilities of exploring gender and its multiple intersections in a range of global and policy contexts through the use of personal experience approaches. The “storying” of lived experience is examined as a means of challenging dominant discourses which can construct and other individuals and groups in relation to many aspects of gender and education. Drawing on intersectionality, as a complex and developing feminist theory, the paper considers ways in which narrative can illuminate often hidden complexities while seeking to avoid generalisations and essentialisms. The difficulties of using narrative in relation to these aims are explored in the light of the warnings of feminist writers such as Michele Fine and bell hooks. The paper briefly considers narrative as both methodology and phenomenon, and finally, drawing on critical discourse analysis, discusses the potential of intersectionality and narrative in relation to undoing gender.
Résumé
GENRE, RÉCITS ET INTERSECTIONNALITÉ : L’EXPÉRIENCE PERSONNELLE APPLIQUÉE À LA RECHERCHE PEUT-ELLE CONTRIBUER À « DÉFAIRE LE GENRE » ? – Cet article examine les méthodologies narratives en tant qu’approche pour explorer les questions de genre, d’éducation et de justice sociale, et en particulier pour aborder la question de «défaire le genre». L’auteure analyse en outre les possibilités d’étudier la question du genre et ses nombreuses intersections avec plusieurs contextes mondiaux et stratégiques à travers les approches de l’expérience personnelle. La narration de l’expérience vécue est examinée comme moyen de contester les discours dominants, qui peuvent construire et rendre autres les individus et les groupes par rapport à de nombreux aspects du genre et de l’éducation. À partir de l’intersectionnalité, théorie féministe émergente et complexe, l’auteure étudie comment le récit peut éclairer des complexités souvent masquées tout en s’efforçant d’éviter les généralisations et essentialismes. Les difficultés d’utiliser le récit par rapport à ces objectifs sont analysées à la lumière des mises en garde d’écrivaines féministes telles que Michele Fine et bell hooks. L’auteure aborde brièvement le récit en tant que méthodologie et phénomène et examine finalement, à partir d’une analyse critique du discours, le potentiel de l’intersectionnalité et du récit en vue de déconstruire les inégalités sexuelles.
Zusammenfassung
GENDER, ERZÄHLUNGEN UND INTERSEKTIONALITÄT: KÖNNEN ERFAHRUNGSBEZOGENE FORSCHUNGSANSÄTZE HELFEN, GESCHLECHTSSPEZIFISCHE BENACHTEILIGUNG ZU BESEITIGEN? – Dies ist eine Untersuchung narrativer Methodik als Ansatz zur Erforschung von Geschlechtsrollen (Gender), Bildung und sozialer Gerechtigkeit und insbesondere zur Gewinnung von Einsichten, wie geschlechtsspezifische Benachteiligungen beseitigt werden können. Darüber hinaus wird eruiert, wie unter Einsatz erfahrungsbezogener Forschungsansätze Geschlechtsrollen und deren vielfältige überschneidungen in diversen globalen und politischen Kontexten untersucht werden können. Es wird untersucht, inwieweit die Fiktionalisierung gelebter Erfahrung in Geschichten ein Mittel sein kann, um vorherrschende Diskurse, durch die viele Aspekte von Gender und Bildung unter Umständen erst geschaffen werden, und in Bezug darauf andere Personen und Gruppen kritisch zu hinterfragen. Im Rückgriff auf Intersektionalität als komplexer und sich entwickelnder feministischer Theorie werden in dieser Arbeit Mittel und Wege erörtert, wie die Erzählung Vielschichtigkeiten ans Licht bringen kann, die sonst oft im Dunkel liegen, wobei versucht wird, Verallgemeinerungen und essenzialistische Erklärungen zu vermeiden. Im Licht der Warnungen feministischer Autorinnen wie Michele Fine und bell hooks wird die Problematik narrativer Ansätze hinsichtlich dieser Ziele ausgelotet. Erzählen wird sowohl als Methodik als auch als Phänomen in knapper Form dargestellt. Unter Rückgriff auf die kritische Diskursanalyse wird am Schluss das Potenzial von Intersektionalität und Erzählung im Hinblick auf die Beseitigung geschlechtsspezifischer Benachteiligung diskutiert.
Resumen
GÉNERO, NARRATIVA E INTERSECCIONALIDAD ¿PUEDEN CONTRIBUIR A “DESHACER EL GÉNERO” LOS ENFOQUES INVESTIGATIVOS BASADOS EN LA EXPERIENCIA PERSONAL? – En este trabajo, la autora examina metodologías narrativas como modo de explorar problemas de género, educación y justicia social y, en particular, insights de lo que llamamos “deshacer el género”. Además, examina las posibilidades de explorar el género y sus múltiples intersecciones en una serie de contextos globales y de políticas basando sus enfoques en la experiencia personal. Examina esta “narración” de experiencia vivida como desafío de los discursos dominantes, capaces de construir otros individuos y grupos en función de muchos aspectos de género y educación. Inspirada en la interseccionalidad como teoría feminista compleja y en desarrollo, la autora estudia caminos donde la narrativa puede aclarar complejidades frecuentemente ocultas, a la vez que trata de evitar generalizaciones y esencialismos. Las dificultades de usar la narrativa en relación con estos objetivos se han explorado a la luz de las advertencias de escritoras feministas como Michele Fine y bell hooks. En resumen, en este trabajo la autora considera la narrativa como metodología y también como fenómeno, y basándose en un análisis de discurso crítico, finalmente trata el potencial de la interseccionalidad y la narrativa en relación con “deshacer el género”.
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Cole, B.A. Gender, Narratives and Intersectionality: can Personal Experience Approaches to Research Contribute to “Undoing Gender”?. Int Rev Educ 55, 561 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11159-009-9140-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11159-009-9140-5