Anti-Oppressive Visual Methodologies: Critical Appraisal of Cross-Cultural Research Design

The purpose of this article is to draw critical attention to the use of photovoice as an anti-oppressive method in research with Aboriginal peoples. In response to the historical vulnerability of Aboriginal peoples to research that “wants to know and define the Other,” anti-oppressive methods deconstruct taken-for-granted research models and focus on privileging Indigenous voices, political integrity, and justice strategies. Anti-oppressive approaches are connected to emancipation and cannot be divorced from the history of racism. Theoretically, photovoice aligns well with anti-oppressive goals, using photographs and storytelling as a catalyst for identifying community issues towards informed solutions. Having roots in Freireian-based processes, photovoice has the goal of engaging citizens in critical dialogues and moving people to social action. Drawing on our recently completed photovoice study, Visualizing Breast Cancer: Exploring Aboriginal Women’s Experiences (VBC), we demonstrate that photovoice seems successful in enhancing critical consciousness among participants, but that outcomes may not be disruptive. While photovoice has the potential to develop counter-hegemonic anti-oppressive knowledge, this may be lost depending on how the research process is encountered; thus, we propose the implementation of a revisionary model which incorporates a culturally safe anti-oppressive lens.