Embodied experiences in motion: integrating the senses in research and teaching

Abstract

This article examines two instances of embodied experiences in research and teaching on mobilities, focusing on the senses as both an object of study and a means of inquiry. Firstly, drawing upon fieldwork exploring cross-border commuting in the Polish–German border region, we center the body in our analysis to explore the embodied and sensorial dimensions of labor mobility. By doing so, we develop the discussion of multisensoriality in the study of labor migration and mobilities and the discussion of the body in the sociology of work by examining how bodily experiences, such as exhaustion, contribute to a deeper understanding of everyday lives. Secondly, as researchers and educators in higher education institutions, we reflect upon our own and our students' bodily and sensory experiences when conducting fieldwork, emphasizing their significance in scholarly knowledge production and encouraging a more comprehensive understanding of the sensory complexities involved in migration and mobility studies.