Researching retired ex-servicemen: reflections on ethnographic encounters

Journal article


Williams, R., Allen-Collinson, J. and Hockey, J. 2020. Researching retired ex-servicemen: reflections on ethnographic encounters. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health. 13 (3), pp. 375-389. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676x.2020.1713204
AuthorsWilliams, R., Allen-Collinson, J. and Hockey, J.
Abstract

The opportunities and challenges that younger, female, civilian researchers can encounter when undertaking ethnographic research with predominantly male military veterans are relatively underexplored sociologically. This is despite a growing literature on reflexivity in military studies over the past decade. To address this gap, we draw on symbolic interactionist insights to examine the reflective account of a British, female researcher in her mid-20s, who conducted qualitative research with 20 ‘older’ (aged 60+) retired servicemen from the Royal British Legion, a United Kingdom charity providing support for military veterans and their families. The study explored ex-servicemen’s embodied experiences of physical activity. The findings presented here cohere around four salient themes identified in the ethnographic reflections: (1) researcher positionality as a young, female, civilian researcher in a traditionally masculine militarised world; (2) managing distressing topics and interactional discomfort; (3) maintaining an ‘ethic of care’; and (4) dilemmas regarding representational issues and ex-servicemen’s embodied experiences.

KeywordsPhysical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation; Health(social science); Social Psychology
Year2020
JournalQualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health
Journal citation13 (3), pp. 375-389
PublisherInforma UK Limited
ISSN2159-676X
2159-6778
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676x.2020.1713204
Official URLhttps://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2020.1713204
Publication dates
Online15 Jan 2020
Print04 May 2021
Publication process dates
Accepted06 Jan 2020
Deposited26 Feb 2020
Accepted author manuscript
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
Additional information

Imported from JPR.

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