I’m reviewing a method of research called Autoethnography, which I am leaning about and thinking about, and whether my blog is a form of it, in a non-academic sort of way. Wikipedia says Autoethnography is a form of self-reflection and writing that explores the researcher’s personal experience and connects this autobiographical story to wider cultural, political, and social meanings and understandings.It differs from ethnography – a qualitative research method in which a researcher uses participant observation and interviews in order to gain a deeper understanding of a group’s culture – in that autoethnography focuses on the writer’s subjective experience rather than, or in interaction with, the beliefs and practices of others. As a form of self-reflective writing, autoethnography is widely used in performance studies and English. Two definitions state,  involves self-observation and reflexive investigation in the context of ethnographic field work and writing (Maréchal, 2010); another well-known autoethnographer (Carolyn Ellis, 2004) defines it as research, writing, story, and method that connect the autobiographical and personal to the cultural, social, and political.

As I write about living with the symptoms of dementia, there is a strong element of self-reflection, and a deep desire to gain an understanding of this new world of dementia, not only for my own emotional survival but also to enhance my ability to retain insight for as long as possible. My journal (blog) has developed from a simple memory bank and legacy to myself and my loved ones, to a social and political voice for people living with dementia, as I seek to describe and systematically analyse my personal experience in order to understand the cultural experience. I think I am attempting to make my personal experience more meaningful and the cultural experience engaging, in ways that now connect with a wider audience than I had ever intended. Writing personal stories can be therapeutic for authors as we write to make sense of ourselves and our experiences, and we can also cleanse ourselves of our burdens, engage and connect with others and discover ourselves. In so doing, we seek to improve and better understand our relationships, encourage personal responsibility, raise consciousness and promote cultural change, and give people a voice that, before writing, they may not have felt they had. As long as I write, I feel I can overcome the emotional burden of the symptoms of dementia. Whether it is autoethnography, narrative therapy, or simply, writing for my life, it doesn’t really matter. What matters to me is that I write!