| |
| author |
Ava Gustafson
| | title |
A Constant Effort: An Exploration of Feminist Disability Theory and Feminist Ethnography in Producing Just Ethnography in Special Education
| | abstract |
The purpose of this thesis is to combine the efforts of feminist ethnography and feminist
disability theory in the production of a more full and robust research methodology for the study
of special education environments and their actors. I will explore ethnography, both generally
and in a feminist sense, some feminist disability theory, and current ethnographic studies of
special education. Through the application of feminist ethnographic methods and feminist
disability theory and a critique of current ethnographic research in special education, a more
responsible formulation of a feminist disability ethnographic method can be formulated for the
research of special education students and their environments. I seek to ask questions about
ethnographic methods and disability theory with a particular focus on how to improve the
experiences of special education students in their education and in research. In my first chapter, I
explore the history of ethnography from the Greek "father of history," Herodotus, through to the
postmodern questions posed by James Clifford and George E. Marcus, and concluding with a
discussion of the feminist critiques of ethnography and promotions of a feminist ethnography.
My second chapter focuses on feminist disability theory. I pull together the important feminist
and disability scholars who proposed a combination of feminism and disability studies queries in
the understanding of intersectional identities. The third chapter looks at specific special
education ethnographies that have already been conducted. I seek to critique these ethnographies
in order to learn where they failed and where they could be further improved by applying
feminist disability theory. Finally, I conclude with a discussion of what a feminist disability
ethnography method would achieve and change for special education.
| | school |
The College of Liberal Arts, Drew University
| | degree |
B.A. (2020)
|
| advisor |
Wendy Kolmar
|
| full text | AGustafson.pdf |
| |
