Embracing Emotionality: Clothing My “Naked Truths”

Abstract

There is increasing awareness and recognition that researchers' emotions will contribute to a richer and deeper understanding of what they are studying. Researchers' emotions as analytic tools are particularly relevant when working with marginalized or oppressed groups because of the emotional aspect generally associated with human suffering. This paper discusses how adopting a reflexive practice can help researchers embrace and use their emotions as a part of the research process, enabling a more humanistic approach to studying crime and those whose marginalization and oppression are intricately tied to their crime. More specifically, this paper examines my own experiences of doing research with Aboriginal female offenders in a federal prison. I problematize the process of embracing emotionality by reflecting on the paralysis that evolved in my research with these women as I experienced an overwhelming sense of despair and hopelessness. I contend that social science in the academic arena, not unlike many other institutions in society, has adopted a method of surveillance thereby instilling a sense of fear and judgment upon those working in academic arenas. After describing my reflexive process throughout this emotional paralysis, I describe my discovery of safe spaces as a way of dealing with my emotions and how engaging in creative analytic practice enabled me to clothe my nakedness and vulnerability as I represented, and ultimately re-created my self in the research process. As part of that evolution, embracing emotionality ultimately enabled me to engage in knowledge building as well as advocacy with and for Aboriginal women in prison.

Performing the role of ethnographer: processing and managing the emotional dimensions of prison research

“…Prisons concentrate on manifestations of power and vulnerability, control and dependency, security and loss of liberty (see Drake, 2012). A number of prison researchers have described or reflected on the tensions and challenges of their ethnographic practice (Giallombardo, 1966;Jacobs, 1974;Jewkes, 2012;King, 2000;Liebling, 1999;Sparks, 2002;Waldram, 2009;Yuen, 2011). These writings vary in their detail and degree of disclosure; thus, gaps still remain in our knowledge of the subtle and detailed techniques deployed by prison ethnographers in the field and the particular emotional demands associated with this work.…”

“…The burgeoning literature on the importance of emotions in research has opened up new ways of thinking about the way emotions influence both qualitative and quantitative work (Bondi, 2005), how they can be systematically processed during (or after) data collection (Mauthner & Doucet, 2003;Yuen, 2011), and how emotions can be used as data (Game, 1997;Hubbard et al, 2001). Whilst this growing body of work has begun to address the gap in the methodological literature on emotion, there are still significant gains to be made by focusing more closely on what emotions can tell researchers about their data or subject area and about the research process itself.…”

Reflexivity in correctional research: Researcher perspectives on parenthood in a study with incarcerated parents

“…Intervening would have broken our undertaking to maintain confidentiality. Other reflexive researchers have explored similar feelings and tensions in the research process (Arber, 2006;Arditti et al, 2010;Yuen, 2011). Managing both the inmates' emotional responses and our own reactions to their stories was sometimes challenging.…”

A Bridge to Alien-Nation: Connecting Through Humanity, Diversity, and Relationships

“…formal writing exercise such as a reflexive journal (Yuen, 2011). Writing can be used as a method of inquiry through discovery and analysis (Richardson, 2000) and has the potential to provide a context for critical reflexivity that evokes new questions (Richardson, 1999).…”