Meridith Griffin
Datos Biográficos
| ID | 3749362 |
|---|---|
| NOMBRE | Meridith Griffin |
| NOMBRES | Meridith |
| APELLIDO | Griffin |
| FIRMA | GRIFFIN M |
| AFILIACIONES | McMaster University |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-5475-7672 |
| VERIFICADO | Sí |
| TOTAL DE OBRAS | 24 |
| TOTAL DE CITAS | 100 |
| TOTAL COMO AUTOR | 24 |
| TOTAL COMO EDITOR | 0 |
| PRIMER AÑO DE PUBLICACIÓN | 2007 |
| AÑO MÁS RECIENTE DE PUBLICACIÓN | 2026 |
| ÍNDICE H | 7 |
Collective reflections on body mapping
Body mapping is a qualitative arts-based research method that can be used to explore a wide range of topics, including health, trauma, and social justice. It involves creating a visual representation of the body, often a life-sized drawing or painting, and using it as a platform to tell stories and convey meaning. In this paper, we offer our collective reflections on body mapping, borne out of our experiences with the method in six different rese…
Love, sacrifice, and rebirth
Adopting a narrative constructionist lens, we conducted life history interviews and arts-based body mapping sessions with five retired women ballet dancers to examine how they storied their embodied experiences, both verbally and artistically. We constructed two narrative themes using narrative thematic and holistic-form structural analyses. (Embodied) Devotion: Love and Sacrifice explores the tensions between participants’ love for the artistry …
Physical leisure for any-body
Speed as an expression and texture of space
In recent years, following new materialist, posthumanist and non-representational turns, human geography has increasingly understood the worlds it studies as vital, immediate and emergent. As part of this vision, studies have empirically animated and theoretically articulated various expressions/textures in the movement of space, including its rhythms, shapes, timings, repetitions, sensuousness and infections. Speed is one such expression/texture…
(Re)claiming subversive spaces on TikTok
Feminist organising in digital spaces, such as social media, has the potential for activism, resistance, and visibility; yet these spaces continue to be dominated by narrow body representations and shaped by unequal power dynamics. We propose that bodies of difference may find vibrant and difference-affirming homes within their digital communities via innovative algorithm-based social media spheres, such as TikTok. Using a creative methodological…
Rethinking the ‘Fit’ in Fitness
Building community or perpetuating inclusionism? The representation of “inclusion” on fitness facility websites
Despite mandates for inclusion, fitness spaces are often unwelcoming for bodies of difference. The disconnect between the formal rules (e.g. policies) of inclusion and people’s ongoing lived experiences of exclusion is what disability scholars call inclusionism. We used Google Maps to search for ‘inclusive gyms’ in our medium-sized city in Canada and curated a list of 47 facility websites. Using a collaborative reflexive thematic analysis, our ob…
Narrative analysis of exclusion from social participation and loneliness among Black older adults in Ontario, Canada
Social participation is an effective way to reduce loneliness among older adults. However, little is known about Black older adults’ (BOAs’) poor participation in social programs. This study thus explores the varied factors that shape BOAs’ participation in social programs and services and how lack of social participation contributes to loneliness. 13 BOAs with mean age of 63.8 participated in this narrative study. Misrepresentation of BOAs in so…
(In/Ex)clusive fitness cultures
Older adults benefit greatly from being physically active yet they are the least active generation. To appeal to older consumers, to reduce barriers older adults experience to becoming physically active and to increase the number of physically active older adults, the exercise market has been divided into mainstream fitness and age-segregated programming that specifically targets older adults. This research employed an institutional ethnography a…
Writing as/about Leisure
Leisure engagement is linked to well-being and social integration, which is important for older adults, who are particularly at risk for social isolation (SI). The aim of this study was to examine the meanings and importance of leisure across the life course. We conducted life history interviews with twenty-six older adults who participated in (primarily) library-based writing programs in Southern Ontario, Canada. We employed narrative inquiry to…
BodyPositive? A critical exploration of the body positive movement within physical cultures taking an intersectionality approach
Feminist activists and critical sport scholars in the global north have advocated for more inclusive representation of bodies and more accessible physical cultures. Body positivity, a contentious movement and concept, has been taken up in various ways by different groups. Some scholars believe it holds power to liberate individuals from patriarchal, neoliberal, capitalist, and colonial ideologies of what constitutes a "good" body. On the contrary…
Group fitness instruction for older adults
One vital role of fitness instructors is that of educator, yet scant theorization about this educative role exists. To address this lacuna in scholarship, we utilized a constructivist grounded theory methodology to develop a theory of embodied education that takes place between the fitness instructor and older exercisers in group exercise classes. The aim was to explain how fitness instructors could teach in a manner that would enhance the inclus…
Meanings and feelings of (Im)mobility in later life
Embodied learning and new physical activity in mid- and later life
A disconnect exists between discursive imperatives to age ‘well’ by way of engagement in physical activity, and the lived experience of many adults who do not meet minimum recommendations for activity participation. This disconnect prompted an investigation of the experiences of those who had made the choice to engage in physical activity in mid-to later life. In this study, in-depth interviews were done with ten adult newcomers to different phys…
Becoming a runner
How do older adults learn to tell a 'new' story about, through, and with the body? We know that narratives are embodied, lived and central to the process of meaning-making—and as such, they do not lie in the waiting for telling, but are an active part of everyday interaction. Telling stories about ourselves to others is one way in which our identity may be performed, and is intricately connected to the social contexts within which it occurs. Narr…
Narratives at work
Previous research has shown that young adults tend to identify and reinforce negative stereotypes of growing older. They can express both fear and trepidation regarding the bodily changes that occur with advancing age. With this in mind, in this paper we draw upon Frank's (2010) theoretical framework of socio-narratology to examine the work that stories can do . We take as a working example the impact that stories of ageing told by masters athlet…
Bat wings, bunions, and turkey wattles
This paper examines older women's experiences and perceptions of clothing prescriptions for adults in later life. Using data from in-depth interviews with 36 women aged 71 to 93 years, we investigate the stringent, taken-for-granted social norms that older women identified with respect to appropriate fashion for the ageing female body. Specifically, the participants argued that older women should refrain from wearing bright colours and revealing …
Visible and invisible ageing
This paper examines how older women experience and respond to ageism in relation to their changing physical appearances and within the context of their personal relationships and places of employment. We elucidate the two definitions of ageism that emerged in in-depth interviews with 44 women aged 50 to 70 years: the social obsession with youthfulness and discrimination against older adults. We examine the women's arguments that their ageing appe…
Body image and aging
Failing Bodies
There is a rich qualitative tradition of examining the lived experience of singular chronic conditions as well as the relationship between illness and identity in chronic disease. There has been little exploration of the experience of multiple chronic conditions or how these health issues may influence body image in later life. Building on the extant research and providing an alternative lens for understanding the experience of health issues, thi…
Green exercise in the UK countryside
There is evidence that contact with the natural environment and green space promotes good health. It is also well known that participation in regular physical activity generates physical and psychological health benefits. The authors have hypothesised that ‘green exercise’ will improve health and psychological well-being, yet few studies have quantified these effects. This study measured the effects of 10 green exercise case studies (including wa…
Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures
This paper analyzes findings from in-depth interviews with 44 women aged 50-70 regarding their perceptions of and experiences with non-surgical cosmetic procedures such as Botox injections, laser hair removal, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and injectable fillers. While 21 of the women had used a range of non-surgical cosmetic procedures, 23 women had not. The data are discussed in light of feminist theorizing on cosmetic surgery which has te…
The body natural and the body unnatural
Becoming and being gendered through the body
Following West and Zimmerman's (1987) theoretical understanding of how gender identities are created and maintained, this paper examines the ways in which older women learned from their mothers how ‘to do gender’ through their bodies and specifically their physical appearances. Extracts from semi-structured interviews with 44 women aged 50 to 70 years have been drawn upon to identify and discuss the ways in which women perceive, manage and presen…
The body natural and the body unnatural
Failing Bodies
There is a rich qualitative tradition of examining the lived experience of singular chronic conditions as well as the relationship between illness and identity in chronic disease. There has been little exploration of the experience of multiple chronic conditions or how these health issues may influence body image in later life. Building on the extant research and providing an alternative lens for understanding the experience of health issues, thi…
BodyPositive? A critical exploration of the body positive movement within physical cultures taking an intersectionality approach
Feminist activists and critical sport scholars in the global north have advocated for more inclusive representation of bodies and more accessible physical cultures. Body positivity, a contentious movement and concept, has been taken up in various ways by different groups. Some scholars believe it holds power to liberate individuals from patriarchal, neoliberal, capitalist, and colonial ideologies of what constitutes a "good" body. On the contrary…
Becoming a runner
How do older adults learn to tell a 'new' story about, through, and with the body? We know that narratives are embodied, lived and central to the process of meaning-making—and as such, they do not lie in the waiting for telling, but are an active part of everyday interaction. Telling stories about ourselves to others is one way in which our identity may be performed, and is intricately connected to the social contexts within which it occurs. Narr…
Becoming and being gendered through the body
Following West and Zimmerman's (1987) theoretical understanding of how gender identities are created and maintained, this paper examines the ways in which older women learned from their mothers how ‘to do gender’ through their bodies and specifically their physical appearances. Extracts from semi-structured interviews with 44 women aged 50 to 70 years have been drawn upon to identify and discuss the ways in which women perceive, manage and presen…
Meanings and feelings of (Im)mobility in later life
Narratives at work
Previous research has shown that young adults tend to identify and reinforce negative stereotypes of growing older. They can express both fear and trepidation regarding the bodily changes that occur with advancing age. With this in mind, in this paper we draw upon Frank's (2010) theoretical framework of socio-narratology to examine the work that stories can do . We take as a working example the impact that stories of ageing told by masters athlet…
Bat wings, bunions, and turkey wattles
This paper examines older women's experiences and perceptions of clothing prescriptions for adults in later life. Using data from in-depth interviews with 36 women aged 71 to 93 years, we investigate the stringent, taken-for-granted social norms that older women identified with respect to appropriate fashion for the ageing female body. Specifically, the participants argued that older women should refrain from wearing bright colours and revealing …
Narrative analysis of exclusion from social participation and loneliness among Black older adults in Ontario, Canada
Social participation is an effective way to reduce loneliness among older adults. However, little is known about Black older adults’ (BOAs’) poor participation in social programs. This study thus explores the varied factors that shape BOAs’ participation in social programs and services and how lack of social participation contributes to loneliness. 13 BOAs with mean age of 63.8 participated in this narrative study. Misrepresentation of BOAs in so…
Body image and aging
Green exercise in the UK countryside
There is evidence that contact with the natural environment and green space promotes good health. It is also well known that participation in regular physical activity generates physical and psychological health benefits. The authors have hypothesised that ‘green exercise’ will improve health and psychological well-being, yet few studies have quantified these effects. This study measured the effects of 10 green exercise case studies (including wa…
Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures
This paper analyzes findings from in-depth interviews with 44 women aged 50-70 regarding their perceptions of and experiences with non-surgical cosmetic procedures such as Botox injections, laser hair removal, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and injectable fillers. While 21 of the women had used a range of non-surgical cosmetic procedures, 23 women had not. The data are discussed in light of feminist theorizing on cosmetic surgery which has te…
The body natural and the body unnatural
Becoming and being gendered through the body
Following West and Zimmerman's (1987) theoretical understanding of how gender identities are created and maintained, this paper examines the ways in which older women learned from their mothers how ‘to do gender’ through their bodies and specifically their physical appearances. Extracts from semi-structured interviews with 44 women aged 50 to 70 years have been drawn upon to identify and discuss the ways in which women perceive, manage and presen…
Visible and invisible ageing
This paper examines how older women experience and respond to ageism in relation to their changing physical appearances and within the context of their personal relationships and places of employment. We elucidate the two definitions of ageism that emerged in in-depth interviews with 44 women aged 50 to 70 years: the social obsession with youthfulness and discrimination against older adults. We examine the women's arguments that their ageing appe…
Body image and aging
Failing Bodies
There is a rich qualitative tradition of examining the lived experience of singular chronic conditions as well as the relationship between illness and identity in chronic disease. There has been little exploration of the experience of multiple chronic conditions or how these health issues may influence body image in later life. Building on the extant research and providing an alternative lens for understanding the experience of health issues, thi…
Bat wings, bunions, and turkey wattles
This paper examines older women's experiences and perceptions of clothing prescriptions for adults in later life. Using data from in-depth interviews with 36 women aged 71 to 93 years, we investigate the stringent, taken-for-granted social norms that older women identified with respect to appropriate fashion for the ageing female body. Specifically, the participants argued that older women should refrain from wearing bright colours and revealing …
Narratives at work
Previous research has shown that young adults tend to identify and reinforce negative stereotypes of growing older. They can express both fear and trepidation regarding the bodily changes that occur with advancing age. With this in mind, in this paper we draw upon Frank's (2010) theoretical framework of socio-narratology to examine the work that stories can do . We take as a working example the impact that stories of ageing told by masters athlet…
Becoming a runner
How do older adults learn to tell a 'new' story about, through, and with the body? We know that narratives are embodied, lived and central to the process of meaning-making—and as such, they do not lie in the waiting for telling, but are an active part of everyday interaction. Telling stories about ourselves to others is one way in which our identity may be performed, and is intricately connected to the social contexts within which it occurs. Narr…
Embodied learning and new physical activity in mid- and later life
A disconnect exists between discursive imperatives to age ‘well’ by way of engagement in physical activity, and the lived experience of many adults who do not meet minimum recommendations for activity participation. This disconnect prompted an investigation of the experiences of those who had made the choice to engage in physical activity in mid-to later life. In this study, in-depth interviews were done with ten adult newcomers to different phys…
Meanings and feelings of (Im)mobility in later life
Group fitness instruction for older adults
One vital role of fitness instructors is that of educator, yet scant theorization about this educative role exists. To address this lacuna in scholarship, we utilized a constructivist grounded theory methodology to develop a theory of embodied education that takes place between the fitness instructor and older exercisers in group exercise classes. The aim was to explain how fitness instructors could teach in a manner that would enhance the inclus…
Writing as/about Leisure
Leisure engagement is linked to well-being and social integration, which is important for older adults, who are particularly at risk for social isolation (SI). The aim of this study was to examine the meanings and importance of leisure across the life course. We conducted life history interviews with twenty-six older adults who participated in (primarily) library-based writing programs in Southern Ontario, Canada. We employed narrative inquiry to…
BodyPositive? A critical exploration of the body positive movement within physical cultures taking an intersectionality approach
Feminist activists and critical sport scholars in the global north have advocated for more inclusive representation of bodies and more accessible physical cultures. Body positivity, a contentious movement and concept, has been taken up in various ways by different groups. Some scholars believe it holds power to liberate individuals from patriarchal, neoliberal, capitalist, and colonial ideologies of what constitutes a "good" body. On the contrary…
Building community or perpetuating inclusionism? The representation of “inclusion” on fitness facility websites
Despite mandates for inclusion, fitness spaces are often unwelcoming for bodies of difference. The disconnect between the formal rules (e.g. policies) of inclusion and people’s ongoing lived experiences of exclusion is what disability scholars call inclusionism. We used Google Maps to search for ‘inclusive gyms’ in our medium-sized city in Canada and curated a list of 47 facility websites. Using a collaborative reflexive thematic analysis, our ob…
Narrative analysis of exclusion from social participation and loneliness among Black older adults in Ontario, Canada
Social participation is an effective way to reduce loneliness among older adults. However, little is known about Black older adults’ (BOAs’) poor participation in social programs. This study thus explores the varied factors that shape BOAs’ participation in social programs and services and how lack of social participation contributes to loneliness. 13 BOAs with mean age of 63.8 participated in this narrative study. Misrepresentation of BOAs in so…
(In/Ex)clusive fitness cultures
Older adults benefit greatly from being physically active yet they are the least active generation. To appeal to older consumers, to reduce barriers older adults experience to becoming physically active and to increase the number of physically active older adults, the exercise market has been divided into mainstream fitness and age-segregated programming that specifically targets older adults. This research employed an institutional ethnography a…
Speed as an expression and texture of space
In recent years, following new materialist, posthumanist and non-representational turns, human geography has increasingly understood the worlds it studies as vital, immediate and emergent. As part of this vision, studies have empirically animated and theoretically articulated various expressions/textures in the movement of space, including its rhythms, shapes, timings, repetitions, sensuousness and infections. Speed is one such expression/texture…
(Re)claiming subversive spaces on TikTok
Feminist organising in digital spaces, such as social media, has the potential for activism, resistance, and visibility; yet these spaces continue to be dominated by narrow body representations and shaped by unequal power dynamics. We propose that bodies of difference may find vibrant and difference-affirming homes within their digital communities via innovative algorithm-based social media spheres, such as TikTok. Using a creative methodological…
Rethinking the ‘Fit’ in Fitness
Love, sacrifice, and rebirth
Adopting a narrative constructionist lens, we conducted life history interviews and arts-based body mapping sessions with five retired women ballet dancers to examine how they storied their embodied experiences, both verbally and artistically. We constructed two narrative themes using narrative thematic and holistic-form structural analyses. (Embodied) Devotion: Love and Sacrifice explores the tensions between participants’ love for the artistry …
Physical leisure for any-body
Collective reflections on body mapping
Body mapping is a qualitative arts-based research method that can be used to explore a wide range of topics, including health, trauma, and social justice. It involves creating a visual representation of the body, often a life-sized drawing or painting, and using it as a platform to tell stories and convey meaning. In this paper, we offer our collective reflections on body mapping, borne out of our experiences with the method in six different rese…
Psychology (19 obras) · Sociology (16 obras) · Medicine (11 obras) · Social Psychology (11 obras) · Aesthetics (10 obras) · Art (9 obras) · Gender Studies (8 obras) · Social science (8 obras) · Political science (7 obras) · Aging and Gerontology Research (6 obras)