Patchwork ethnography

Many ethnographers feel the pressure to suspend familial and professional ties to separate the field from home for prolonged periods. Since 2019, we have been developing the concept of patchwork ethnography to spotlight how ethnographers conduct fieldwork amid intersecting personal and professional responsibilities. We interrogate how researchers' personal lives impact the process of knowledge production, showcase the innovations that have stemmed from efforts to balance multiple commitments, and advocate for writing with rather than against the disruptions that might characterize anthropological research projects. As a discipline that centers reflexivity, anthropology provides the tools to rethink not only our discipline's research practices but also those of other social sciences. Drawing on the discipline's strengths, patchwork ethnography unlocks anthropology's potential to further expand what theory means and who can be considered a theorist.

Automated summary

Patchwork ethnography highlights how researchers conduct fieldwork while balancing personal and professional responsibilities, advocating for separating home and work for prolonged periods. By interrogating the impact of personal lives on knowledge production and showcasing innovations that result from balancing multiple commitments, patchwork ethnography not only improves anthropological research practices, but also influences research methodologies in other social sciences.