This blog post was part of the coursework for the Ethnographic Practicum course, “Ethnography of the University 2021: Focus on Diversity.” It was originally posted in the category “Confronting Walls and Normalizing Practices.” It’s not uncommon to hear people frame post-secondary education as a ‘journey’ through which a young person ‘finds’ themselves. Indeed, university experiences … Continue reading
Category Archives: Ethnography of the University
Undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in ANT473 and ANT 6200 Ethnographic Practicum: The University, together with other members of the Ethnography Lab have been investigating various aspects of life at the University of Toronto. The purpose of the course is for students to learn how to conduct an independent ethnographic inquiry, analyse data, and write it up as an original contribution to knowledge. Data comes from observations, archives, interviews, photos and other methods, as students spend time in field sites in a range of venues across campus. They use weekly meetings for brainstorming, sharing insights, coming up with provisional analysis, and allocating tasks for individuals or sub-groups to work on in the week ahead. The resulting blog posts and final papers are archived here.
Women-Only Hours, Forgotten Genders and Toxic Femininity, By Lidiia Tulenkova (Ethnography of the University 2021: Focus on Diversity)
This blog post was part of the coursework for the Ethnographic Practicum course, “Ethnography of the University 2021: Focus on Diversity.” It was originally posted in the category “Confronting Walls and Normalizing Practices.” Women-only hours at the Athletic Center at U of T provide an opportunity for all women and women-identifying individuals to enter the … Continue reading
“The Gym Is a Micro-Society”, By Lidiia Tulenkova (Ethnography of the University 2021: Focus on Diversity)
This blog post was part of the coursework for the Ethnographic Practicum course, “Ethnography of the University 2021: Focus on Diversity.” It was originally posted in the category “Confronting Walls and Normalizing Practices.” The truth that is on everyone`s lips is that, for some people, gyms’ atmosphere is very depressing and uncomfortable. However, such a … Continue reading
Keep Calm and Speak English, By Yuyang Yuan (Ethnography of the University 2021: Focus on Diversity)
This blog post was part of the coursework for the Ethnographic Practicum course, “Ethnography of the University 2021: Focus on Diversity.” It was originally posted in the category “Confronting Walls and Normalizing Practices.” My research concerns how the evaluation mechanism shapes the diverse student body into the normalized image of “U of T students”. A … Continue reading
When Efforts Do Not Bring Rewards, Other Possibilities Open Up, By Yuyang Yuan (Ethnography of the University 2021: Focus on Diversity)
This blog post was part of the coursework for the Ethnographic Practicum course, “Ethnography of the University 2021: Focus on Diversity.” It was originally posted in the category “Confronting Walls and Normalizing Practices.” As a kid, I was told that “how much effort you make brings the rewards you will get”. When I studied hard, … Continue reading
Academic Trash: Utility Versus Meaning in Writing Assignments, By Yuyang Yuan (Ethnography of the University 2021)
This blog post was part of the coursework for the Ethnographic Practicum course, “Ethnography of the University 2021: Focus on Diversity.” It was originally posted in the category “Confronting Walls and Normalizing Practices.” Another midnight, Charon submitted his essay right before 11:59 pm, the deadline. He then posted a meme on his social media account. … Continue reading
A Surprisingly Successful Survey and a New Question, By Lidiia Tulenkova (Ethnography of the University 2021: Focus on Diversity)
This blog post was part of the coursework for the Ethnographic Practicum course, “Ethnography of the University 2021: Focus on Diversity.” It was originally posted in the category “Concepts and Methods.” In my research on gender diversity at open gyms, my primary research question was “do gyms at U of T serve as a safe … Continue reading
“Into the Field!” Or My Experience of Collecting First Ethnographic Data, By Lidiia Tulenkova (Ethnography of the University 2021: Focus on Diversity)
This blog post was part of the coursework for the Ethnographic Practicum course, “Ethnography of the University 2021: Focus on Diversity.” It was originally posted in the category “Concepts and Methods.” The choice of my ethnographic research topic on gender diversity in gyms was not accidental. I was led not only by the incredible curiosity … Continue reading
The Arts of Noticing, By Ashna Shah (Ethnography of the University 2021: Focus on Diversity)
This blog post was part of the coursework for the Ethnographic Practicum course, “Ethnography of the University 2021: Focus on Diversity.” It was originally posted in the category “Concepts and Methods.” After a relatively busy morning, I had finally rung up my childhood friend, Dee, from back home and was listening to her animatedly describe … Continue reading
Challenges of a Student Ethnographer, By Charlotte Millar and Erica de Souza (Ethnography of the University 2021: Focus on Diversity)
This blog post was part of the coursework for the Ethnographic Practicum course, “Ethnography of the University 2021: Focus on Diversity.” It was originally posted in the category “Concepts and Methods.” It is a unique experience going from student to ethnographer. This post will document two student ethnographer experiences and the challenges they face. Charlotte … Continue reading