A women’s talking circle: A narrative study of positive intergenerational communication

Narrative inquiry was used to understand how women’s experiences with their mothers, grandmothers, and daughters and as mothers, grandmothers, and daughters contribute to their meaning making of communication and connectedness with unrelated women. A purposeful sample of nine women aged 31-69 from a small Midwestern city was studied. Six African American and three white women were chosen for their membership in a group that has regularly engaged in positive intergenerational communication for nearly two years. The women’s narratives of personal communicative experiences within their families and with the other women were recorded and interpreted to gain a deeper understanding of how past experiences shape present communicative interactions and feelings of connectedness. Some of the findings validated previous research. Three concepts—sistership, play, and storytelling—distinguished the current study. These three emergent themes are noteworthy for their importance in building and maintaining connection and for the promotion of positive communication across generations and race. The electronic version of this dissertation is available in the open-access OhioLink ETD Center, www.ohiolink.edu/etd.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Leadership and Change

Grantor dc:publisher

Antioch University

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Ferris-Olson, Pamela

Contributors dc:contributor

• Holloway, Elizabeth

• Womens Studies
• Communication
• Sociology
• Families and Family Life
• narrative inquiry
• mothers, daughters, grandmothers
• women's leadership
• intergenerational communication
• positive communication
• interracial communication
• relational practice
• storytelling
• connection
• talking circle
• motherwork

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1366205259

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:antioch1366205259