Life History of Karen: A Physical Education Educator With an Impairment

Authors

  • Gunars Cazers The University of West Alabama
  • Matthew Curtner-Smith The University of Alabama

Keywords:

physical disability, case study, physical education

Abstract

How does a person with an impairment become a physical educator? This paper presents the life history of one educator who became a physical educator and later a university professor in physical education. The paper uses the methodological model of “life history” and involves gathering information about an individual using a variety of techniques including interviewing and ethnographical fieldwork (Goodson, 1980). We used a life history approach to investigate the personal truth of “Karen,” (a pseudonym) a professor of sport pedagogy with a physical impairment, to examine whether she experienced marginalization in the dimension of ableness within the historical context of her time.

Issue

Section

Feature Articles