As my summer wraps up, I am beginning to think more and more about the aspects of this experience that I thought went very well for me, and other aspects that I wish had been different. I loved having the connections with the women of SEDOAC, if not just for personal reasons, I think the interactions with them provided a vital, personal element to my research. I do not think I would have been able to understand the issues surrounding domestic work in Spain fully without those personal connections. I am proud that I was able to foster these connections, and I really hope that the work I did for them was helpful and something they will be able to use in the future.
For me, I think that the biggest struggle is always trying to balance between being proactive and overstepping. I do wish I had been able to do more for SEDOAC, but it is very difficult when they do not have an office space (though supposedly they are getting one in the coming year) and at times communication is tough. The organization is so centered around various events in various places that getting one-on-one time to figure out what more I could do for them was difficult. In the same vein, it was difficult to get one-on-one time for formal interviews, and I think some of the connections I had with the women were amazing and helpful to me, but I don’t know how to cite things that they told me in my time with the organization or list their experiences when I wasn’t able to talk to them in a formal setting. That being said, I do think their responses to certain issues and their level of honesty would have changed in a more formal setting, so I definitely see it as a positive that I was able to talk to the women in a very informal setting. I just wish I had a little bit more backing with recorded interviews.
As far as my actual research goes, I am happy with it. I think the assignments helped me to think about different aspects that I may or may not end up using in my research, but regardless I think they bolstered my understanding of the issues at large. I think the specific questions about community engagement helped me to see different ways that SEDOAC was engaging with the community, and even though I will not use a lot of those examples in my research, I still think it was important and valuable for me to look into that.
The only aspect of my research that I found really difficult was a lack of guidelines. I do feel that this is mostly in part due to my specific situation, and not being in New York during the Spring. I felt a little bit lost as to what exactly I was trying to do with SEDOAC, and it was very hard for me to figure out exactly what I wanted in relationship to the fellowship guidelines. Again, I do think that was much more a function of my situation than the way the program is designed and usually carried out.
Overall I have been happy with the experience, and I really loved the opportunity to work with the women of SEDOAC. They helped me not only with my research but also my empathy and understanding in cultures different from my own. I appreciated the time I had with them, and feel as though I have made lasting connections with some of the women. I am excited to finish my research and hope that the work I did for SEDOAC helps them in their future endeavors. I believe that SEDOAC has a big, bright future ahead and I am very excited to see what they accomplish over the coming years, and I am grateful that I got to be a part of their growth, however small my impact may have been.
Siobhan, thanks for your your honest reflection here. The guidelines part is tough because these are usually determined by our partner organizations, which take different forms from highly organized and situated (like WHEDco) to more collective and informal (like SEDOAC), so there’s no “one size fits all” for anyone. If you look at others’ blog posts, you’ll notice other people saying “my fellowship is not like the others, so [insert situation or assignment] doesn’t really apply to me.” The fact is, every experience has too many variables to make the fellowship perfectly uniform. The structure exists in the cohort of fellows, the weekly assignments, the faculty mentor’s input, the partner’s input, and the justice-oriented attitude of the student. So, basically, you did great. One thing you might have been able to use had you been in NYC in the spring is some guidance on field notes. (I say this based on your concern about how to cite your conversations.) See this essay for some guidance and definitely look at books/essays that are built on ethnographic research: https://dj.dancecult.net/index.php/dancecult/article/view/362/367
Let’s check in when you get back!