02. Knowing from Within: Using Autoethnography as a Lens to Examine Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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It is unlikely that anyone living in the United States has escaped untouched by COVID-19 pandemic. The novel coronavirus upended U.S. social life in 2020, and its impact continues to be felt across the nation and the globe. The pandemic has not, however, affected all individuals or social groups in an identical manner, and therefore, social scientists are actively working to uncover the diversity of lived experiences during COVID-19. This study aims to contribute to that developing body of knowledge. This research is an autoethnography, a first-hand narrative of the author’s lived experiences, that draws on feminist theory, specifically Dorothy E. Smith’s conceptualization of standpoint theory and the validity of subjective knowledge, to examine life during the pandemic. The autoethnography is structured around original photographs that convey the author’s standpoint, serving to reveal and analyze challenges faced by a female undergraduate navigating life in the midst of a worldwide pandemic. Together, the written and visual elements create a nine-month narrative of the knowledge acquired through the self-examination of one’s experiences using a sociological lens. This study adds to our understanding of life during a pandemic, exploring issues such as gender inequality, feelings of inadequacy, and pressures felt by undergraduates, and showcases the relevance and validity of making space for subjective narrative in sociological research, or, as Smith indicates, the importance of focusing on personal experiences and sharing knowledge from within. In doing so, this study provides a model for future qualitative research about life during the COVID-19 pandemic.