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Iria AsanakiDiversity in Organizations, Communities, and Nations’s Updates
Auto-biography in the making: A trip to the ivory tower?
Purpose
This study is an autobiography in the making. And rightly so because an Auto-biography which is also academic study is not done overnight. Hence, the question mark and I must add, exclamation mark at the end of the title. This project is similar to studies that various academics have tried to do and were not quite satisfied with the outcome because it is an intricate endeavor.
It is about writing the self into research. It seeks answers to key questions such as: how is justice conceptualized in the academia? Is diversity a compelling interest in academia? What makes a minority faculty, successful in attaining their goals in traveling their various career trajectories? Are there some tactics for maneuvering and challenging the borders or status quo as we climb the academic ladder? A study such as this one will increase understanding of issues related to diversity, justice and ways of knowing.
Procedures
The process of obtaining data and material will include mostly conversational interviews and questionnaires. Originally, I intended using ground theory but again, upon reflection and discussions with colleagues in the field, I have come to the conclusion that the best approach should be that of interviews both formal and informal as well as questionnaires.
Outcomes/Product
The outcome of the study was intended to be an auto-biography but upon reflection and upon bouncing the idea off with fellow academics, close relatives, students and colleagues, I have come to refocus my direction on producing an autoethhno-biography – one that is not just auto-biography – about myself - but rather about the self and perspectives of the self as perceived by others. It will therefore include discussions that can very well be termed products of symbolic interaction/interactionism.
It’s about educating yourself into research. It is looking for answers to important questions such as: how can we build integrity in university? Is differentiation a compelling necessity in technology? What makes a small department, successful in maintaining their destinations in the journey of many of their biological processes? Are there any strategies for navigating and challenging your dreams or values as we climb a student ladder? Research like this will increase understanding of issues related to diversity, righteousness and ways of knowing. We need to write a review for them. The outcome of the study was intended to be an autobiographical story but on reflection and on bouncing advice with fellow students, close relatives, students and colleagues, I have sought to re-guide my work on creating biobahn's biography - one that is not just a fictional biography - about myself - but rather about one's self and physical views as perceived by others. It will therefore include discussions that may well be the key products of the pre-match interaction / ism interaction.
Please elaborate on your comment. Let's dig deeper into the concepts. What exactly do you mean when you talk about critical theory since they can mean different things to different scholars. My idea of critical thinking has to do with digging deeper into issues that do not simply entail asking provocative questions but also analyzing issues both on the theoretical, analytical, philosophical and practical levels. The feminist perspective in both simplistic and broader terms, in my opinion, has to do with the place of persons, be they male or female - do they have equal access? In my opinion, this is attainable as long as everyone at the table feels invited, welcomed and has a sense of belonging.
Another angle to your auto-ethno-biography can be critical events theory (critical theory) or feminist perspective.
The ivory tower can be attained with humility intact that is why I have a question mark after the title of the topic.