I Know Her! A Heuristic Inquiry into Women Becoming Aware as They Enact Self
Open Access Deposited(1) suspension, (2) redirection, (3) letting go (Depraz et al, 2003). Self-awareness was found to be a dynamic, cyclical process grounded in embodied practice and community that demands agency and contributes to joy. Ultimately, the process of becoming aware advocates for integrative language and new models for understanding and cultivating the enactment of Self.
In the course of this dissertation, I employed heuristic inquiry to explore the living experience of women becoming aware as they enact Self. Through dialogue with women seeking Self-discovery, this study examined emerging or “living experiences” (i.e., interrelated, interconnected, continuing experiences) rather than static, fixed, or “lived experiences” (Sultan, 2019, p. 4). A conceptual framework was established reframing static and dualistic views of identity, and situating Self-awareness as an active, embodied, and relational process. Core theories from enaction, epoché of awareness, and embodiment were integrated, providing constitutive attributes of Self-awareness and ongoing enactment of Self. The study utilized an adapted heuristic methodology centered on deep reflexivity, researcher immersion, and dialogic engagement. The design integrated arts-based and somatic methods (the meaningful portrait process) with recursive data collection. Rigor was emphasized through authenticity, resonance, and layered reflective practices. Two semi-structured interviews in dialogue with the participants, whom I characterize as co-researchers, were conducted. The theoretical framework for this research is based on the principles of enaction (Varela et al., 2016) and the findings were examined for themes that may indicate the embodied enactive process or epoché of becoming aware
- All rights reserved
Notice to Authors
If you are the author of this work and you have any questions about the information on this page, please use the Contact form to get in touch with us.