Week 2: On Objectivity

We discussed the promise and peril of identifying "objective" sources and the some of the differences between collaborative and individual research. Take a look at this link about the inherent shortcomings of collaborative history:

Limbaugh Taken In by Federal Judge Hoax - NYTimes.com

On Monday 9/20, Prof. Chavez-Garcia will be talking about her research and some of the methodological challenges in Platner 201 from 3-4PM. Some of the issues she encountered included:

1. Record keeping for the girls in the state reformatory was poor at best and non-existent at worst.

2. Incarcerated youth had little, if any, social power in or outside the state and larger society, giving them few opportunities to voice their motivations and aspirations as well as their fears and desires.

3. The youths’ limited literacy and ability to write or read in English or Spanish is a fifth challenge in finding sources detailing their experiences, for few left written records.

4. Finally, while reform school and state hospital records and other similar state-generated sources do exist, the institution’s (and state’s) interests--and not the individual’s or collective community’s—are best represented, reflecting the values and ideologies of the state. The sources, therefore, reflect the larger inequalities shaping the imbalanced power relations between the youths and state representatives.

What do you think some of the potential challenges you will have in gathering your research? Bring these questions to the discussion with Prof. Chavez-Garcia!