Composing Academic Identities

Abstract

Qualitative inquirers “should” tell stories that matter. Here, I examine the case that researchers who compose their own academic identities “should” also produce stories that matter. Indeed, developing our identities is a lifelong (even unto death) human quest to decide who we/or others think we are. These identity narratives become journeys without maps that their authors usually believe are tales that matter. Such narratives also re-describe qualitative inquiry as a matter of telling stories that matter. However, one danger is that those searching for some authentic or core identity may wander too far in their mapless journeys.