Reflexivity Essay Example

Barbara Myerhoff initially intended to study elderly Chicanos in LA. However, she decided to conduct an ethnographic study on her own ethnicity for Number Our Days and focused on the aging Jewish population of Venice, California instead. Her reflexivity is evident as she identifies with the educated males of the group, such as her male correspondent Schmuel, rather than the females. Myerhoff is impacted by the emotional stories of the elderly she will eventually join. Similarly, in Cruikshank’s Life Lived Like a Story, reflexivity is crucial to interpreting and connecting various stories in a meaningful context.

Reflexivity is a crucial element of ethnography as it enables researchers to become immersed in their subject matter, becoming interactive reporters in the narratives. This approach allows for enhanced relevance in the gathered information and gives readers a sense of