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Whose voice is it anyway? Rethinking the oral history method in accounting research on race, ethnicity and gender

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  • Kim, Soon Nam

Abstract

Drawing on contemporary feminist and postcolonial writings, this paper endeavors to provide a critique of some underlying assumptions of the oral history method. The very methodology of the oral history method re-enforces hegemonic Western ideologies about race/ethnicity, gender and class perpetuated through the connection between the cultural identity of the speaker and the notion of authenticity as a ground for academic authority. Without recognizing the inherent subjectivities of the research methods we use, we may unwittingly perpetuate these hegemonic ideologies, despite our good intention. If other histories are to be heard, this bias and viewpoint needs to be challenged, not in a threatening way but in an enlightening way, so that the “Other” voices can tell their stories in a more, if not fully, liberated way.

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  • Kim, Soon Nam, 2008. "Whose voice is it anyway? Rethinking the oral history method in accounting research on race, ethnicity and gender," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 19(8), pages 1346-1369.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:crpeac:v:19:y:2008:i:8:p:1346-1369
    DOI: 10.1016/j.cpa.2007.03.009
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    Cited by:

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    3. Dambrin, Claire & Lambert, Caroline, 2012. "Who is she and who are we? A reflexive journey in research into the rarity of women in the highest ranks of accountancy," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 1-16.
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    5. James, Kieran & Otsuka, Setsuo, 2009. "Racial biases in recruitment by accounting firms: The case of international Chinese applicants in Australia," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 20(4), pages 469-491.
    6. Xue, Qingmei & Zan, Luca, 2023. "The Chinese accounting profession in the People’s Republic: A preliminary understanding from an oral history perspective," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    7. Dillard, Jesse & Vinnari, Eija, 2017. "A case study of critique: Critical perspectives on critical accounting," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 88-109.
    8. Vassili Joannides, 2011. "Apport de l’ethnicité à la culture en sciences de gestion," Revue Finance Contrôle Stratégie, revues.org, vol. 14(1), pages 33-68., March.
    9. Annisette, Marcia & Prasad, Ajnesh, 2017. "Critical accounting research in hyper-racial times," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 5-19.
    10. Vassili Joannides, 2011. "Apports De L'Ethnicite A La Culture En Sciences De Gestion," Grenoble Ecole de Management (Post-Print) hal-00676555, HAL.
    11. James, Kieran, 2010. "“Who am I? Where are we? Where do we go from here?” Marxism, voice, representation, and synthesis," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 21(8), pages 696-710.
    12. Vassili Joannides, 2011. "Apports De L'Ethnicite A La Culture En Sciences De Gestion," Post-Print hal-00676555, HAL.
    13. Komori, Naoko, 2015. "Beneath the globalization paradox: Towards the sustainability of cultural diversity in accounting research," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 141-156.
    14. Xue, Qingmei & Zan, Luca, 2022. "The Chinese accounting profession in the People’s Republic: A preliminary understanding from an oral history perspective," MPRA Paper 114407, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    15. Edgley, Carla & Sharma, Nina & Anderson-Gough, Fiona, 2016. "Diversity and professionalism in the Big Four firms: Expectation, celebration and weapon in the battle for talent," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 13-34.
    16. Galizzi, Giovanna & McBride, Karen & Siboni, Benedetta, 2024. "Patriarchy persists: Experiences of barriers to women's career progression in Italian accounting academia," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
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    18. Rashedur Chowdhury, 2023. "Misrepresentation of Marginalized Groups: A Critique of Epistemic Neocolonialism," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 186(3), pages 553-570, September.
    19. Mohamad-Yusof, Nor Zalina & Wickramasinghe, Danture & Zaman, Mahbub, 2018. "Corporate governance, critical junctures and ethnic politics: Ownership and boards in Malaysia," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 33-52.
    20. Hammond, Theresa & Streeter, Denise W. & Musundwa, Sedzani, 2022. "Using qualitative research to effect change: African/American accountants in Black and White," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    21. Walaa Wahid ElKelish*, 2023. "Accounting for Corporate Human Rights: Literature Review and Future Insights," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 33(2), pages 203-226, June.

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