Essay on The Pros and Cons of Ethnographic Reflexivity

The Advantages and Limits of Ethnographic Reflexivity Awareness of writing choices generates an appreciation of the reflexivity of ethnographic research. Reflexivity involves the recognition that an account of reality does not simply mirror reality but rather creates or constitutes as real in the first place whatever it describes. Thus ‘the notion of reflexivity recognizes that texts do not simply and transparently report an independent order of reality. Rather, the texts themselves are implicated in the work of reality-construction (Emerson et. al., 1995:213). According to Robert M. Emerson and colleagues, reflexivity is a method in which the ethnographer is aware that his/her writing choices are shaped to acknowledge the†¦show more content†¦In her ethnography she writes how she had to reconstruct her â€Å"self† in order to fit in to Japanese society. She looked Japanese but she did not act the way a native Japanese would act. Her informants than taught her how to act like a native and in this process she began to understand aspects of the Japanese culture. She mentions: These factors perhaps gave me a certain kind of participatory understanding of certain aspects of Japanese society. It also meant that, once I became an active participant in various groups (family, factory, etc.) my knowledge was circumscribed. For example, therefore did not have free access to certain people, and I could not ask certain questions that a foreigner less aware of indelicacy could have posed with impunity (84). In forming a self in Japanese society she notes that one is more accessible to gaining further understanding about the culture being studied. Thus, she critiques the traditional ethnographic methods because she finds that older text make objective assumptions that are not necessary the reality of a culture. The assumptions than are seen as the true reality and full understanding of a culture. On the contrary, reflexivity â€Å"implies that ethnographic knowledge is intrinsically incomplete and relative† (84). Thus she suggest, that the best path to studying cultures is to acknowledge our bias, assumptions and that of our informants to trace the â€Å"parameters, theShow MoreRelatedAlternative Learning Systems9735 Words   |  39 Pagesconcept of emotion work. In contrast, Gretchen’s observations show how emotion work can be used to understand the conflict that feminist instructors may encounter when confronting emotional content and experiences in the classroom. Appl ying this reflexivity to our classrooms gave us unique insight into the experiences of oppression of our students. As a result, we were both sympathetic and empathetic to our students, and we wanted to resist modes of oppression wherever possible. For example, in Kylie’sRead MoreOrganisational Theory230255 Words   |  922 Pagesorganizational concepts and theories as well as provides insightful examples from the practical world of organizations. The authors’ sound scholarship and transparent style of writing set the book apart, making it an ingenious read which invites reflexivity, criticalness and plurality of opinion from the audience. This is a book that will become a classic in organization studies. Mihaela L. Kelemen, Professor of Management Studies, Keele University, UK An unusually rich and deep philosophical book