Article
Background
Lola Popoola launched “Expressions!”, a self-published research zine project centered on the internal worlds of Black womxn. The project responds to the dominance of quantitative methods in knowledge production, where personal narratives and lived experiences are often undervalued. Drawing on her academic background and frustration with this imbalance, Lola conducted a literature review, created a reflection survey, and gathered responses from self-identifying Black womxn. She combined these reflections with selected artworks connected to the research themes. Using a Black Feminist Methodology, she curated the material into a zine.
I noticed within my studies and work, there is an ‘obsession’ with quantitative knowledge that drives decision making and qualitative qualities seem to have limited place in knowledge production.
Approach and Methodology
Lola’s literature review examined how qualitative knowledge, especially the personal narratives of Black womxn, is undervalued in research. She then designed a reflection survey and collected responses from self-identifying Black womxn. Following a Black Feminist Methodology, she organized and anonymized the responses to ensure participants’ privacy. Lola also curated artworks from artists whose work resonated with the research themes. Finally, she edited the reflections, research findings, and selected artworks into a zine.
Impact
“Expressions!” directly engaged 32 individuals, including reflection survey participants and contributing artists. The project created a dedicated space for Black womxn to share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences, centering their voices in ways often overlooked in traditional research. By combining personal narratives with artwork, the zine offered an accessible and creative platform for documenting and disseminating qualitative knowledge. It fostered reflection, validation, and dialogue among participants and readers, challenging the dominance of quantitative methods in academia.
New Steps
The next phase of “Expressions!” focuses on sharing the zine. With the digital version published, ensuring wide accessibility, Lola now aims to print physical copies. This step aims to expand the project’s impact by making the reflections and artworks of Black womxn more widely available, creating ongoing opportunities for engagement, dialogue, and education around qualitative knowledge and lived experiences.
Find “Expressions!” and more work by Lola on her website.