INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CHANGES IN EDUCATION
Research Article
Feb 29, 2024 3 1

Pain, No Gain? A Joint-Autoethnography of Our Working Lives as Academics with Chronic Illnesses

Samantha Wilkinson 1 * ,
Catherine Wilkinson 2
1 Health and Education, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK2 School of Education, Liverpool John Moores University, UK* Corresponding Author
International Journal of Changes in Education, 1(1), 2024, 4-10, https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE32021657
Publication date: Feb 29, 2024
Full Text (PDF)

ABSTRACT

This paper adopts a joint-autoethnographic approach to explore our lived experiences of working in academia while living with chronic illness, specifically ankylosing spondylitis, at two “new” public universities in the North of England, UK. Use of the novel methodological approach of joint-autoethnography enables us to provide a snapshot into what it means to be “othered” in contemporary neoliberal academia. We contribute to existing debates, which seek to disrupt perceptions of academia as an elitist, ablest, and privileged ivory tower. Through data captured in personal research diaries, we shed light on the emotional and embodied experiences of living with chronic illness while navigating academia, and how we perform our (un)spoiled academic identities. This is important because women with chronic illnesses and disabilities are significantly under-represented in senior roles within universities. This paper will interest an international readership because chronic illnesses are widespread in the workforce, and these individuals offer a unique perspective within higher education and have an awareness of the barriers faced by other academics and students with chronic illnesses.

KEYWORDS

chronic illness higher education performance

CITATION (APA)

Wilkinson, S., & Wilkinson, C. (2024). Pain, No Gain? A Joint-Autoethnography of Our Working Lives as Academics with Chronic Illnesses. International Journal of Changes in Education, 1(1), 4-10. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE32021657
Harvard
Wilkinson, S., and Wilkinson, C. (2024). Pain, No Gain? A Joint-Autoethnography of Our Working Lives as Academics with Chronic Illnesses. International Journal of Changes in Education, 1(1), pp. 4-10. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE32021657
Vancouver
Wilkinson S, Wilkinson C. Pain, No Gain? A Joint-Autoethnography of Our Working Lives as Academics with Chronic Illnesses. International Journal of Changes in Education. 2024;1(1):4-10. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE32021657
AMA
Wilkinson S, Wilkinson C. Pain, No Gain? A Joint-Autoethnography of Our Working Lives as Academics with Chronic Illnesses. International Journal of Changes in Education. 2024;1(1), 4-10. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE32021657
Chicago
Wilkinson, Samantha, and Catherine Wilkinson. "Pain, No Gain? A Joint-Autoethnography of Our Working Lives as Academics with Chronic Illnesses". International Journal of Changes in Education 2024 1 no. 1 (2024): 4-10. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE32021657
MLA
Wilkinson, Samantha et al. "Pain, No Gain? A Joint-Autoethnography of Our Working Lives as Academics with Chronic Illnesses". International Journal of Changes in Education, vol. 1, no. 1, 2024, pp. 4-10. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE32021657

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