An Arts-Based and Duoethnographic Exploration of Vulnerability Through Family and Profession

Abstract

During the summer of 2013, four faculty members conceived of a project to explore diversity through a different approach. The project would include two phases: an arts-based mixed-medium phase and a duoethnography phase. A duoethnography consists of intentional, critical conversations between two or more co-researchers to explore a concept or issue. These four faculty members issued invitations to any faculty interested in participating and the project began early in the fall of 2013. Very quickly in the original meeting the theme of vulnerability emerged as a commonality among all participants and was settled on as the focus of the arts-based phase. After the arts-based phase was completed at the end of spring 2014, the participants broke into smaller writing groups and used duoethnography to more deeply explore a vulnerability that emerged in the arts-based phase. This case study focuses on the work of the three authors and our three-person duoethnography phase exploring vulnerability through family and profession. In this case study, we briefly define arts-based and duoethnographic methodology. Next, we describe the arts-based phase of our process and provide a more in-depth description of our duoethnographic process. This study is process focused; thus, the interactions, reflections, and meaning making are the work. This investigation resulted in new understandings of the vulnerabilities inherent in our profession and allowed us to reconsider the interrelationship of our vulnerabilities and our careers.

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