During the first SIP workshop we looked at different methods of enquiry. I had already begun to explore various research methods in order to make a decision on which one would be best suited to my project and I had decided that taking an autoethnographic approach would be the most appropriate way to go about it.  According to the definition on Wikipedia, autoethnography is described in the following way:

“Autoethnography is a form of qualitative research in which an author uses self-reflection and writing to explore anecdotal and personal experience and connect this autobiographical story to wider cultural, political, and social meanings and understandings.^[1][2] Autoethnography is a self-reflective form of writing used across various disciplines such as communication studies, performance studies, education, English literature, anthropology, social work, sociology, history, psychology, theology and religious studies, marketing, business and educational administration, arts education, nursing and physiotherapy.”

My project is largely based on my own personal experience of being a disabled person, so this method of research places myself in the position of participant as well as researcher, with my lived experience giving me the advantage of being able to relate to other participants and carry out my research in a much more personal and sensitive manner.

I have had the opportunity to read a number of articles based on Autoethnography which have helped me to further understand what it is and how using this method will enable me to carry out my research. I wanted to first understand the advantages and if there are any potential limitations to choosing this method for my project. I came across an article written by Mariza Mendez for the Columbian Applied Linguistics Journal where she analyzes and reviews some of the existing research and literature on autoethnography and it’s advantages, limitations and criticisms of this research method since it was first introduced in the 1980s. One of her observation is that:

“It seems that there are no formal regulations regarding the writing of an autoethnographic account since it is the meaning that is important, not the production of a highly academic text.”

Mendez, 2013

I always felt that my research project would be carried out in a creative format – I never really considered working in any other way. Personally, I tend to struggle a lot with reading great long essays and reports and unless the reading is directly targeted at something I can relate to, I find it very hard to keep focused. My research project focuses mainly on my own disability, my experience as a black disabled female and the thoughts of my peers and those who are close to me about what the visibility of individuals such as myself means in the context of the art world and in educational settings. I liked the idea of a more creative, personal research method for the very same reasons Mendez states below:

“…evocative autoethnography aims toward researchers’ introspection on a particular topic to allow readers to make a connection with the researchers’ feelings and experiences.”

Mendez, 2013

The subject itself has the potential to be quite emotive as it draws on personal experiences and the creation of a piece of artwork (sculpture) that embodies those thoughts, so it is important to understand the implications of allowing myself to be so vulnerable for the purposes of a research project. But with openness and vulnerability also comes several advantages to using this method. Firstly, I am the focus of the project and have complete access to all my own thoughts and experiences needed to draw from for my research, however Mendez states that this advantage can also create limitations:

“It is this advantage that also entails a limitation as by subscribing analysis to a personal narrative, the research is also limited in its conclusions.”

Mendez, 2013

In the case of my own project, I do not agree with this statement as I believe what I want to explore has the potential to produce many other research options and conclusions (such as exploring social & medical models of disability, the implications of labelling, taboos & stigmas surrounding disability in African & Caribbean cultures etc…) I do strongly believe that personal narratives are much more relatable and offer readers the opportunity to empathise and connect with both the researcher and the subject on a more personal level. Not only are they being presented with a topic they may not ordinarily have explored, it becomes more human and less disconnected.

There are, of course, ethical implications to take into consideration. Mendez poses the question as to whether or not we should ask consent from the people involved in an autoethnographic narrative and my response is absolutely!  The fact that the research may be of a personal nature and involves other people means that a duty of care must be taken to ensure those involved (not just the researcher) are protected. Clarity about what will be required of participants  and the intentions for the research must be made clear from the start. Taking a creative approach to research does not absolve the researcher from their ethical responsibilities to all involved.

I wanted to start collecting thoughts and opinions on the word ‘disabled’ so I decided to make a post on Instagram as a starting point and ask people what the word meant to them. The video I posted shows myself working on the sculpture I am creating to coincide with my this self-initiated project:

I tend to engage quite well with the followers I have on Instagram and many of them are aware of the fact I have ABS (Amniotic Band Syndrome). Although I don’t know everyone personally, I feel I have built up enough of a profile to make people feel comfortable with sharing their thoughts and opinions. The caption under the video reads as follows:

I tend to engage quite well with the followers I have on Instagram and many of them are aware of the fact I have ABS (Amniotic Band Syndrome). Although I don’t know everyone personally, I feel I have built up enough of a profile to make people feel comfortable with sharing their thoughts and opinions. The caption under the video reads as follows:

“If you’d have told me 5 years ago that I’d be making a blinged-out sculpture of my right hand, I probably would have laughed & told you to f**k right off. 5 years ago I still hadn’t REALLY accepted its appearance as being worthy of any sort of acknowledgement, let alone a full on & incredibly visible sculpture concept. I guess this is one example of personal growth. It’s also made me realise the importance of owning a [dis]ability whilst fully celebrating that fact that I am more than able. It’s opened conversations around the use of the word [dis]abled and what it means to people in my life. I’d love to hear your thoughts – what does the word [dis]abled mean to you?”

I made sure to include the hashtags #amnioticbandsyndrome, #blackdisabledcreatives & #luckyfinproject (Lucky Fin Project is an organisation that highlights the profiles of people with limb differences). Although my own exploration of ABS is a very recent thing, I have found that through making my own case visible, I have come across many more people with the same or similar conditions. Some of the responses I received are below:

It’s always interesting to hear other people’s perspectives, especially as in my case, the recent realisation an acceptance of ABS has led to me wanting to explore it more, but in a very visible way. It has also meant that in doing this, I’m more aware of the lack of visibility of black disabled people (primarily women) in both the mainstream arts scene and within arts educational settings. I do anticipate that the journey this will take me on probably won’t end with the completion of the sculpture – it may, in fact, be just the beginning.