Research as resistance and solidarity: ‘spinning transformative yarns’‐ a narrative inquiry with women going on from abuse and oppression

In this paper I set out the methodological framework for, and offer some emerging themes from, my ongoing narrative inquiry with women who have experienced abuse and oppression. The paper positions research as an act of resistance and solidarity and highlights the transformative nature of systemic group work and of narrative inquiry. The emergent themes of ‘power’, ‘transparency’ and ‘personal and collective transformation’ are brought forth from the conversations within the narrative inquiry. The process of which included three stages of conversational inquiry (with women I have co‐facilitated groups with and with women who were part of groups I co‐facilitated), followed by a five‐stage analysis of the transcribed conversations, the design and process of which is briefly described. There is reference to how women ‘go on’ after abuse and oppression and after being with other women in a ‘transformative’ group context. Extracts from the conversations I have been part of are interwoven with my own reflections, that form part of the rich tapestry of a narrative inquiry and are part of a story of transformation, solidarity and resistance. Practitioner points Narrative inquiry offers a frame for meaning making through the telling and re‐telling of stories Insider research is viewed as a generative and transformative process for all involved, including the ‘researcher’ Transparency within practice/research is put forward as an act of resistance, bringing less visible stories of resourcefulness into the light Research as solidarity is a joint movement towards social justice, contributing to ‘better social worlds’