Harnessing Phenomenological Research to Facilitate Conscientização About Oppressive Lived Experience

This article illustrates how liberation psychology and phenomenological research can work in tandem to raise conscientização (critical consciousness) about unjust societal dynamics, mourn sociopolitical community traumas, and construct empathic bridges among diverse citizens of society. It outlines...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of humanistic psychology 2021-11, Vol.61 (6), p.906-924
Main Author: Gupta, Nisha
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bystanders
Citizens
Community
Consciousness
Emancipation
Oppression
Phenomenological research
Psychology
Sympathy
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Summary:This article illustrates how liberation psychology and phenomenological research can work in tandem to raise conscientização (critical consciousness) about unjust societal dynamics, mourn sociopolitical community traumas, and construct empathic bridges among diverse citizens of society. It outlines three ways in which phenomenological researchers can harness their methodologies as an emancipatory tool for oppressed communities. First, I discuss how Steen Halling’s dialogal phenomenological method can build public homeplaces in which members of marginalized communities can gather together to share and gain insight into their oppressed lived experiences. Second, I discuss how Max Van Manen’s existential-phenomenological data interpretation can nurture solidarity among the oppressed and oppressors and demonstrate the ways in which institutionalized oppression dehumanizes all citizens. Third, I encourage phenomenological researchers to disseminate research in artistic formats to evoke compassionate witness among citizen bystanders about oppressive lived experiences. The article concludes by positing that Paulo Freire’s process of emancipation is, essentially, a phenomenological endeavor.
ISSN:0022-1678
1552-650X
DOI:10.1177/0022167818820465