Narrative Inquiry of Displacement: Stories of Challenge, Change, and Resilience

• In Event: Experiences of Identity and Knowledge

Abstract

This presentation is a narrative study of displacement experiences in different cultures/contexts conducted in Canada, the United Kingdom and United States. Displacement refers to the forced movement of a person, or people, from their locality or environment and/or occupational activities which can cause reverberations through generations. Rosenwald (1992) has posited that, “life stories play a significant role in the formation of identity, [and] that these stories may be constrained by oppressive cultural conditions, and … may be liberated by critical insight and engagement” (p. 265). We will share examples of different types of displacement, their challenges and implications. We will share a working typology for narrative inquiry that has emerged and engage the audience in dialogue/critique to help refine it.

Authors

• Lynn Butler-Kisber, McGill University

• Maggi Savin-Baden, University of Worcester

• Kelly Clark Keefe, University of Vermont