Carrying More than a Notebook: Embodied Knowledge and Maternal Methodologies in Anthropology

Abstract (English)

This paper explores the integration of motherhood and fieldwork during my doctoral research on regenerative farming, offering an embodied perspective on how maternal methodologies enrich anthropological inquiry. Conducted over several years with three rural regenerative farms—Happiness by the Acre, Regenera Ranch, and Winter’s Turkeys Farm—this research examines how farmers cultivate meaningful connections that prioritize economic sustainability, ecological balance, and social relationships. Simultaneously, my experiences as a mother conducting fieldwork reshaped my methodological approach, fostering a deeper understanding of relationality, care, and reciprocity. Motherhood necessitated a reimagining of conventional anthropological practices, requiring adaptability, empathy, and co-creation with participants. Carrying more than a notebook—both figuratively and literally—allowed me to embody relationality and blur the lines between researcher and caregiver, challenging dominant epistemic paradigms. This dual role revealed how care work parallels the regenerative practices of farmers, emphasizing interconnectedness and the importance of nurturing resilient systems. By situating motherhood as a central lens, this presentation critically engages with the Congress theme of "Unearthing Humanity" and the sub-track "Feminist Anthropologies." It argues for the inclusion of maternal methodologies as a powerful tool for ethical, inclusive, and innovative anthropology, highlighting how personal and professional identities can coalesce to redefine research paradigms in a multipolar world.