Life-Writing Involving Family Members: Methodological Pathways

• In Event: Meaning-Making and Making-Meaningful in Life Stories

Abstract

This paper explores methodological developments in life-writing projects that focus on or involve the researcher’s family members. An eclectic and creative body of work, published inquiries on family members cross disciplinary boundaries, reflect diverse theoretical investments, and mobilize varied methodologies. The inquiries reflect profoundly different purposes and foci as well. In this paper, I focus on a series of published family inquiries to analyze authors’ methodological choices in carrying out their work. I consider purpose, overt and covert design and methodologies animating the work, the discernible rationale for those choices, the role the family member-researcher relationship plays in the life writing, and the theoretical allegiances that govern the work. This contributes to methodological theorizing of life writing.

Author

• Lucy E. Bailey, Oklahoma State University