Learning to Share Gendered Military Experiences: An Autoethnographic Exploration of Expressive Writing in Transforming Military Cultures
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| Title: | Learning to Share Gendered Military Experiences: An Autoethnographic Exploration of Expressive Writing in Transforming Military Cultures |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Nancy Taber (ORCID |
| Source: | New Horizons in Adult Education & Human Resource Development. 2025 37(4):225-234. |
| Availability: | SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 10 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Adult Education |
| Descriptors: | Foreign Countries, Military Personnel, Veterans, Females, Adult Education, Feminism, Military Service, Expressive Language, Writing (Composition), Learning Experience, Writing Workshops, Writing Instruction, Cultural Influences, Gender Issues |
| Geographic Terms: | Canada |
| DOI: | 10.1177/19394225241312441 |
| ISSN: | 1939-4225 |
| Abstract: | This article discusses the analytic-evocative autoethnographic exploration of my learning experiences planning for, facilitating, participating in, and reflecting on a series of expressive writing workshops for women-identifying Canadians who have served in the military. I explore how the intersection of expressive writing, adult education, and feminist antimilitarism can inform understandings of individual military service, the collective institution of the military, and transforming military cultures. I detail my methodology of autoethnography, including a discussion of method and analysis, which demonstrates how the core elements of expressive writing and autoethnography are at odds with those of military cultures. For these reasons, expressive writing and autoethnography hold great potential for transforming military cultures, which is why I chose to combine these creative forms of writing and exploration in my research. I explain my thematic findings of: reclaiming military identity, memories, and story through imagination; and, building community through story-telling inspired by shared gendered military experiences. I present a found poem created from my writing during the workshop series that emerged from my thematic findings. I conclude with implications for adult education and autoethnographers in the context of working toward transforming military cultures. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1488866 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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| Abstract: | This article discusses the analytic-evocative autoethnographic exploration of my learning experiences planning for, facilitating, participating in, and reflecting on a series of expressive writing workshops for women-identifying Canadians who have served in the military. I explore how the intersection of expressive writing, adult education, and feminist antimilitarism can inform understandings of individual military service, the collective institution of the military, and transforming military cultures. I detail my methodology of autoethnography, including a discussion of method and analysis, which demonstrates how the core elements of expressive writing and autoethnography are at odds with those of military cultures. For these reasons, expressive writing and autoethnography hold great potential for transforming military cultures, which is why I chose to combine these creative forms of writing and exploration in my research. I explain my thematic findings of: reclaiming military identity, memories, and story through imagination; and, building community through story-telling inspired by shared gendered military experiences. I present a found poem created from my writing during the workshop series that emerged from my thematic findings. I conclude with implications for adult education and autoethnographers in the context of working toward transforming military cultures. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1939-4225 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/19394225241312441 |
