Potential Spaces - Subjectivities and Gender in a Generational Perspective

Abstract

Most social and cultural researchers emphasize the way people use cultural concepts to organize their social world and to constitute themselves and others in meaningful ways. In this article, this is taken one step further through taking into account the way that such cultural constructions are animated and loaded with personal meaning and emotions that stem from specific psycho-biographies. Making use of object-relational theory in general, and Chodorow’s theory of ‘power of feeling’ in particular, the authors analyse the self-talk of two young women, positioning themselves in a ‘modern’ and ‘postmodern’ discourse respectively, relating these discursive positions to the generational context in which they seem to have evolved. The aim is to contribute to a more concrete and historically situated understanding of subjectivities as ongoing processes interweaving both cultural demands and personal constructions, which always involve emotional meaning.

Reflexive research: Investigating the process of growth in recognition of self-awareness and affect

“…This paper follows recent psychosocial thinkers such as Hollway and Jefferson (2005), Rudberg and Nielsen (2005), Urwin et al (2012), Venn (2009), and Wetherell (2012), who advocate the use of affect when analysing qualitative interview data from a reflexive viewpoint. This theoretical angle was found especially suitable regarding reflexivity as a novice researcher.…”

Parents with troubled upbringings and their perception of childhood

“…Furthermore, psychosocial thinkers such as Hollway and Jefferson (), Rudberg and Nielsen (), Venn (), Urwin et al (), and Wetherell () support the idea of a psychosocial theoretical approach when analysing qualitative interview data in particular. This is because psychoanalytical concepts can be helpful in exploring their specific positioning in historically constituted discourse that each person has to locate for themselves or their children (Frosh, Phoenix, & Pattman, ).…”

“…Psychosocial research is concerned with the interview subjects as well as cultural understandings, such as leading discourses of childhood that are jointly viewed as significant contributions to data analysis (Thomson, Moe, Thorne, Nielsen, 2012, Urwin, Hauge, Hollway, & Haavind, 2012, Hollway, 2013. Following other psychosocial researchers, such as Hollway and Jefferson (2005), Rudberg and Nielsen (2005), and Urwin et al (2012), this article draws on discursive perspectives combined with psychoanalytic thinking "to inform" the qualitative analysis of the interview data.…”

Conflicts in the Habitus: The Emotional Work of Becoming Modern

“…Dina's strong identification with her mother's values as well as enhanced striving for cultural capital also appear as a generational pattern among middle-class girls. The high level of ambition and goal-directedness that, to some degree, made it possible for Dina to disregard the conflicting desire for popularity in her teenage years seems to have been a common dilemma for many girls (Nielsen, 2004; Rudberg and Nielsen, 2005). The ‘choice’ of eschewing popularity enabled women of this generation to achieve high educational capital.…”