Spring Break
Qualitative research professor discusses risk in writing
CHRISTOPHER TAYLOR For The Red & Black
Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: News
A research professor advocated taking personal risks for equality in a writing lecture Tuesday.
Corey Johnson, a qualitative research professor, gave the talk entitled "Writing Ourselves at Risk: Using Self-Narrative in Working for Social Justice."
Johnson focused on personal narratives from his own life, the risk involved in publishing them, and the impact on research and social awareness that came with showing actual experience.
Johnson emphasized that, as long as he is bearing witness as an ethnographer and researcher to the lives and culture of others, "I need to let them be my witness."
Each narrative carried its own type and level of risk, he said. For example, some narratives included Johnson's exploration of his homosexuality, others' professional censorship, illegal drug use and childhood racism.
Johnson's stories were punctuated by group discussions between lecture attendees - through different lenses, such as department heads, students, colleagues, and family members - about the reasons for or against publishing Johnson's individual accounts.
Johnson discussed frequently that reader and listener discomfort during his stories afforded opportunities for dialogue on social justice and equality. When asked in this context, "Is it legitimate to take risk for the sake of risk?" he replied, "I think so, yes."
Arguing for the value of putting oneself on the line while balancing a desire to remain employed, Johnson used his personal stories to show his willingness to lead by example.
"I gave this lecture pre-tenure a year ago at the University of Waterloo," he said. "I would advocate for lots of risk-taking."
He also underlined the importance of writing in the academic and professional spheres.
"Good ethnographers must be writing all the time," he said.
One particular story that resonated with the audience was about Johnson's childhood. He recalled a story about a neighborhood friend with whom he played basketball, and said his mother approved of the boys playing outside, but didn't want Johnson going inside the neighbors' house. Later, after unwittingly repeating his father's racist joke, Johnson learned that his friend was black, and he was white, and that these were different things.
Afterward, Johnson said, he and his neighbor were no longer friends. He said although sharing such a story makes him vulnerable, his disclosure was important to emphasize "marginalized groups are made vulnerable every day."
The lecture was the last in a series held by the Dean's Council on Diversity for the semester.
Corey Johnson, a qualitative research professor, gave the talk entitled "Writing Ourselves at Risk: Using Self-Narrative in Working for Social Justice."
Johnson focused on personal narratives from his own life, the risk involved in publishing them, and the impact on research and social awareness that came with showing actual experience.
Johnson emphasized that, as long as he is bearing witness as an ethnographer and researcher to the lives and culture of others, "I need to let them be my witness."
Each narrative carried its own type and level of risk, he said. For example, some narratives included Johnson's exploration of his homosexuality, others' professional censorship, illegal drug use and childhood racism.
Johnson's stories were punctuated by group discussions between lecture attendees - through different lenses, such as department heads, students, colleagues, and family members - about the reasons for or against publishing Johnson's individual accounts.
Johnson discussed frequently that reader and listener discomfort during his stories afforded opportunities for dialogue on social justice and equality. When asked in this context, "Is it legitimate to take risk for the sake of risk?" he replied, "I think so, yes."
Arguing for the value of putting oneself on the line while balancing a desire to remain employed, Johnson used his personal stories to show his willingness to lead by example.
"I gave this lecture pre-tenure a year ago at the University of Waterloo," he said. "I would advocate for lots of risk-taking."
He also underlined the importance of writing in the academic and professional spheres.
"Good ethnographers must be writing all the time," he said.
One particular story that resonated with the audience was about Johnson's childhood. He recalled a story about a neighborhood friend with whom he played basketball, and said his mother approved of the boys playing outside, but didn't want Johnson going inside the neighbors' house. Later, after unwittingly repeating his father's racist joke, Johnson learned that his friend was black, and he was white, and that these were different things.
Afterward, Johnson said, he and his neighbor were no longer friends. He said although sharing such a story makes him vulnerable, his disclosure was important to emphasize "marginalized groups are made vulnerable every day."
The lecture was the last in a series held by the Dean's Council on Diversity for the semester.
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