The WonderBread Factory: re-reading transformative data through poetic eyes as early career researchers, a poetic representation

ABSTRACT

In this article, the authors reflect on the experience of playing with research data in the form of poetic representation as early career researchers. The first author combined a collection of voices that intersected with her position as a transformative physical education teacher educator. Influenced by feminist thought, the principal author (re)created the research data in the form of a poem called ‘The WonderBread Factory’ rather than a traditional academic manuscript as a non-conforming piece of academic research. It was through this sense-making creative process that both authors reflected and concluded that poetry as a method can be a transformative process where scholars can transgress understandings of their role in the academy. They end with a call for others to join in solidarity.

KEYWORDS:

• Physical education
• teacher education
• poetry
• transformative pedagogy
• feminism

Acknowledgements

A manuscript is never created independently, as authors we always lean on scholars’ voices that came before us, our collaborating participants, and scholarly colleagues who challenge us as we write. Thus, thank you, feminist scholars past and present, Florence, Tara, Eva, and Harper for engaging with me throughout my thesis. And, Drs Karen Lambert and Stephen Palmer for your helpful insights. Lastly, the generous reviewers for their time and constructive observations.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 ‘I’ refers to the principal author of the paper.

2 Self-selected fictitious names used throughout to protect the identity of the participants.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

S. Lynch

Shrehan Lynch is responsible for physical education teacher education at the University of East London including PGCE, School Direct, and Apprenticeship programs. Her specialism includes social justice pedagogies in physical education.

L. Davies

Laura Davies is a PhD student at Loughborough University, researching inclusion in international education. She is currently the Head of Physical Education at a British International School in Thailand.