Narrative Inquiry as a Decolonising Methodology

Abstract

As a distinct form of qualitative research, narrative can be used as a method of inquiry in order to examine past experiences and decolonise minds regarding the “still persistent colonial mission” (Willinsky in Abdi & Richardson, 2008, p. viii). Narrative acts as a lens through which we see anew – it is a means to explore unfamiliar sociohistorical context. A significant characteristic of narrative is that it can allow for new meanings and diverse ways of knowing to emerge. In this paper, I highlight how I use narrative as a decolonising methodology in which, according to Edward Said (1978), indigenous people are responsible to provide their narratives to counter the perspective of outsiders. In particular, I include Arab Muslim women’s narratives that counter Orientalist perceptions of Muslim women as passive victims of their faith.