In this article, poetic inquiry is introduced, the author’s standpoint explicated, and a critical poetic inquiry from the Pacific nation of Papua New Guinea reported. Auto-ethnographic, narrative, and found (transcription) poems are included re-presenting observational and qualitative data. Impacts of violence, poverty, and stigma, along with life-affirming actions of individuals, families, and their communities, are explored. This critical poetic inquiry encourages the reader toward critical thinking and positive action for improved sexual health and well-being.
CharmazK. (2019). “With constructivist grounded theory you can’t hide”: Social justice research and critical inquiry in the public sphere. Qualitative Inquiry, 26(2), 165–176.
5.
ChilisaB. (2012). Indigenous research methods. SAGE.
Kelly-HankuA.Redman-MacLarenM.Boli-NeoR.NosiS.AseS.AenoH.NembariJ.AmosA.GabuzziJ.KupulM.WilliieB.NarokobiR.HouP.PekonS.KaldorJ. M.BadmanS. G.VallelyA. J.HakimA. J. (2020). Confidential, accessible point-of-care sexual health services to support the participation of key populations in biobehavioural surveys: Lessons for Papua New Guinea and other settings where reach of key populations is limited. PLOS ONE, 15(5), 1–16.
11.
KincheloeJ. L.McLarenP. L. (1994). Rethinking critical theory and qualitative research. In DenzinN. K.LincolnY. S. (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research (pp. 138–157). SAGE.
12.
KovachM. (2009). Indigenous methodologies: Characteristics, conversations, and contexts (1st ed.). University of Toronto Press.
13.
LahmanM. K. E.RichardV. M. (2014). Appropriated poetry: Archival poetry in research. Qualitative Inquiry, 20(3), 344–355. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077800413489272
14.
LeggoC. (2008). Astonishing silence: Knowing in poetry. In KnowlesJ. G.ColeA. L. (Eds.), Handbook of the ARTS in qualitative research (pp. 165–174). SAGE.
15.
LordeA. (2016). Sister outsider: Essays and speeches. Random House.
16.
McCullissD. (2013). Poetic inquiry and multidisciplinary qualitative research. Journal of Poetry Therapy, 26(2), 83–114.
17.
MillsJ.BirksM. (2014). Qualitative methodology: A practical guide. SAGE.
18.
MuhlhauslerP.RomaineS. (2003). Tok Pisin texts: From the beginning to the present. John Benjamins Publishing Company.
19.
NakataM. (2007). An Indigenous standpoint theory. In NakataM. (Ed.), Disciplining the savages: Savaging the disciplines (pp. 213–217). Aboriginal Studies Press.
20.
OliverC. (2012). Critical realist grounded theory: A new approach for social work research. British Journal of Social Work, 42(2), 371–387.
PrendergastM. (2006). Found poetry as literature review: Research poems on audience and performance. Qualitative Inquiry, 12(2), 369–388.
23.
Redman-MacLarenM. (2015a). Becoming a researcher: An auto-ethnographic account of a doctoral researcher re-presented in poetry. Journal of Poetry Therapy, 28(3), 207–214.
24.
Redman-MacLarenM. (2015b). The implications of male circumcision practices for women in Papua New Guinea, Including for HIV prevention [Doctoral thesis]. James Cook University.
25.
Redman-MacLarenM.MacLarenD.HarringtonH.AsugeniR.Timothy-HarringtonR.KekeubataE.SpeareR. (2012). Mutual research capacity strengthening: A qualitative study of two-way partnerships in public health research. International Journal for Equity in Health, 11(1), Article 79.
26.
Redman-MacLarenM.Mafile’oT.TommbeR.MacLarenD. (2019). Meeting in the middle: Using Lingua Franca in cross-language qualitative health research in Papua New Guinea. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 18, 1–8.
27.
Redman-MacLarenM.MillsJ. (2015). Transformational grounded theory: Theory, voice and action. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 14(3), 1–12.
28.
Redman-MacLarenM.MillsJ.TommbeR.MacLarenD.SpeareR.McBrideW. J. H. (2017). Implications of male circumcision for women in Papua New Guinea: A transformational grounded theory study. BMC Women’s Health, 17(1), Article 53.
29.
RichardsonL. (1997). Skirting a pleated text: De-disciplining an academic life. Qualitative Inquiry, 3(3), 295–303.
30.
RichardsonL. (2011). Poetic representations. In FloodJ.LappD.HeathS. Brice (Eds.), Handbook of research on teaching literacy through the communicative and visual arts (pp. 232–238). Taylor & Francis.
31.
SmithL. T. (2012). Decolonizing methodologies: Research and indigenous peoples (2nd ed.). Zed Books.
TommbeR.Redman-MacLarenM.BrowneK.NeuendorfN.KokinaiC.SimeonL.MacLarenD. (2019). Meri lidas, sexual health and wellbeing: Supporting women leaders to navigate science, culture and religion for improved health outcomes in Papua New Guinea. Development Bulletin, 81, 37–41.