Using ‘the body’ as an ‘instrument of research

Kimch’i and Pavlova

Bibliographic Data

ID8088929
AuthorsRobyn Longhurst (0000-0001-9192-0643, corresponding author), Elsie Ho (0000-0002-7866-032X), Lesley Johnston (0000-0001-7686-9181), Lynda Johnston
Year2008
Volume40
Issue2
Pages208-217
Publication date2008-05-09
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueArea (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0004-0894 • E-ISSN: 1475-4762
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1475-4762.2008.00805.x
OpenAlexW2167665697
LanguageEN
Citations received175
References cited44

Often researchers position themselves in relation to race, age and gender, but the body is less often discussed as an actual ‘instrument of research’. We aim to extend thinking on this point by reflecting on a project we conducted on migrant women and food in New Zealand. We present a vignette as an example of how we used our bodies as ‘instruments of research’ at a ‘shared lunch’ attended by new migrants from a range of different countries. At the lunch some combined on their plates spicy dishes such as kimch’i (fermented vegetables) and sweet dishes such as pavlova (a meringue dessert). For others this combination prompted feelings of disgust. We conclude that the body is a primary tool through which all interactions and emotions filter in accessing research subjects and their geographies

Aesthetics · Art · Disgust · Feeling · Point (geometry · Race (biology · Sociology · Vignette · Culinary Culture and Tourism · Geographies of human-animal interactions · Psychology · Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics · Gender Studies · Social Psychology

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub