Unforgetting Autoethnography’s Origins: Historical Roots and Futures of Autoethnography in Education Research

• In Event: Dwelling in the In-Between: Relational and Sensory Turns in Qualitative Inquiry

Abstract

This paper explores the historical development of autoethnography to envision its future potential in educational research. Linking personal narrative with cultural critique, autoethnography has expanded across disciplines. Drawing from historical analysis, the paper identifies key philosophical and methodological roots—feminist theories, critical race theory, postmodernism, and more—that underpin its current prominence. It shows how autoethnography emerged alongside broader shifts in epistemology and social theory. By examining its power to connect personal experience with social phenomena, the paper highlights its ongoing relevance for challenging inequities in education. This historical interrogation reminds researchers of the foundations of the method and encourages its continued use in imagining more just, inclusive, and critically engaged educational research.

Author

• Marcus B. Weaver-Hightower, Virginia Tech