Divisive Democracy, a Gambling Game: An Autoethnographic Narrative Examining a Lived Communal Experience

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 1:30 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 2-3
  In Roundtable Session: Collaborative Narrative Research (Table 3)

Abstract

In this paper, I use one narrative within a broader autoethnographic study to analyze the lived experience of a cultural minority. This paper applies theories of democratic education to explore how citizenship impacts community members and young people. This narrative analysis unpacks how overt and covert messages in a public space and place shape how children understand citizenship in a democracy. Overall, my analysis reveals that children internalize principles of citizenship through their societal experiences. This paper connects principles of advanced citizenship to teacher education through awareness of dominant narratives. Only together as diverse citizens can communities move away from random games of chance and toward a more sustainable model of citizenship.

Author

• Kelsey Walker, Goshen County School District #1