Auto/biographical research on old Mexican women: a methodological and reflexive account

Abstract

AbstractWhen it comes to presenting qualitative research in a language other than the participants’ native language the decision-making processes involved are not often fully addressed. Drawing on research with 32 Mexican women aged 60 and over and addressing a significant gap in guidance available to bilingual novice researchers and/or aspiring Ph.D. candidates, this article discusses the complexities of shifting between languages while conducting auto/biographical research. It also explores the researcher’s own positionality as insider/outsider and how these issues impact the research outcomes and knowledge production. It particularly highlights the dual role as researcher and Spanish–English translator and provides details about the methodological decisions undertaken regarding wording selection and interpretation across languages. Ultimately, this article contends that cross-language researchers need to systematically address the unique translation issues involved and make explicit the dilemmas and consequences of moving between languages in which participants’ auto/biographies are analysed, written-up and published.