Pain, no gain? A joint-autoethnography of our working lives as academics with chronic illnesses

Wilkinson, Samantha ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1564-5472 and Wilkinson, Catherine ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-6585 (2023) Pain, no gain? A joint-autoethnography of our working lives as academics with chronic illnesses. International Journal of Changes in Education. ISSN 3029-133X

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Abstract

This paper adopts a joint-autoethnographic approach to explore our lived experiences of working in academia whilst living with chronic illness, specifically Ankylosing Spondylitis, at two ‘new’ public universities in the North of England, UK. Use of the novel methodological approach of joint-autoethnography enables us to provide a snapshot into what it means to be ‘othered’ in contemporary neoliberal academia. We contribute to existing debates which seek to disrupt perceptions of academia as an elitist, ablest and privileged ivory tower. Through data captured in personal research diaries, we shed light on the emotional and embodied experiences of living with chronic illness whilst navigating academia, and how we perform our (un)spoiled academic identities. This is important because women with chronic illnesses and disabilities are significantly under-represented in senior roles within universities. This paper will interest an international readership because chronic illnesses are widespread in the workforce and these individuals offer a unique perspective within higher education, and have an awareness of the barriers faced by other academics and students with chronic illnesses.