Kathy Charmaz: Theory, Method, and Scholarly Identity

Abstract

Kathy Charmaz is arguably the most important member of the second generation of grounded theorists. In this paper we present our analysis of her research and published works in reference to the historical and biographic contexts that shaped them. Our analysis is framed by the sexpartite scholarly identity Charmaz developed over the course of the 55 years of her academic career, including: medical sociologist, symbolic interactionist, qualitative researcher, grounded theorist, public sociologist, and interpreter of the Chicago School Diaspora. We examine the significant theoretical, methodological, and substantive contributions she has made, such as her work on the implications of silences in qualitative interviewing, the necessity of contextualizing research, the gendered nature of living with chronic illness and disability, and most notably, the features of her own constructivist grounded theory. In doing so, we address tensions in her understanding of obdurate reality and theoretic saturation, as well as the perils of the unintended consequences of championing reflexivity. We conclude by conceptualizing how Charmaz's scholarly activities serve as a means by which Chicago School traditions are passed on to subsequent generations of symbolic interactionists and grounded theory researchers.