Topic:             Becoming a ‘Field’ Observer: A Sociological Adventure of Self-Reflexivity

Time& Date: 19:00-20:30, Apr. 25, 2024 (Thursday)

Venue:            TB104

Speaker:        Prof. Yuchen HAN [CUHK(SZ)]

Host:              Prof. Xueshi LI [CUHK(SZ)]

Language:     Putonghua

Abstract:

By sharing the experiences and stories from my fieldworks, this talk discusses on ethnography which is often adopted in sociological/anthropological/cultural studies. I firstly introduce my methodological considerations and practices of utilizing a top-down strategy while incorporating the bottom-up as a hidden method, as well as self-exposure in entering the ‘field’. Secondly, I examine three challenges I encountered during fieldwork, namely, how to approach ‘true’ data, the dilemma of being a participant observer, and de-constructing and re-constructing my theoretical perspective. I also share how I dealt with these challenges and the lessons I learned. It was intersectional reflexivity which made these problems visible, analyzable and (partly) addressable.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Yuchen HAN is Associate Professor (Teaching) of School of Humanities and Social Science, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen. Dr. Han teaches Living Sociology, Gender Matters, Introduction to Sociology, Philanthropy and Social Innovation. Her research interests include gender, migration, contemporary China, alternative development, qualitative inquiry and pedagogies. Her research articles have appeared in high ranked SSCI journals and academic collections, such as Gender, Work and Organization; Gender, Place and Culture; Sage Research Methods: Diversifying and Decolonizing Research, etc.