Auto-Ethnography Analysis

In conducting my primary research, I found a plethora of connections between my primary and secondary research. While interviewing my mother, I noticed illuminating correlations between my secondary research from Forbes Magazine with her own personal statements about her company, Restoration Hardware. My mother’s take on the retail industry regarding the vast unemployment across America as well as in her own company aligned with the projected change in the commerce world that was stated in the Forbes article. Asking about her own personal predictions about the future of the retail industry post-pandemic, her declarations were very similar to the ones stated in Forbes, while they also followed the timeline displayed in a New York Times article I discovered. Forbes predictions for the future of commerce were these three developments: “permanent consumer behavior,” “new economic reality,” and “new competitive landscape and partner ecosystem.” In comparison to their projections, my mother discussed the numbers of her own companies online engagement as exponentially increasing, meanwhile explaining the major shifts the economy will have to adjust to in the future. Additionally she discussed the likely bifurcation of the retail industry based on necessity. Considering my mother works for a furniture company, the demand on outdoor furniture has increased as many individuals are looking to create a comfortable living configuration while quaranting with their families. Furthermore, my mother discussed the mental and physical impacts quarantine and the coronavirus as a whole has had on both herself and her company. The personal narrative she shared was powerful, in that it provided an indepth exploration into her emotions, which I believe will be very relatable for viewers who listen to our conversation. 

As for the secondary research I collected regarding the at-risk population, I found that it supported my grandfather’s statements. Conducting a rather relaxed conversation, my grandfather did not agree with the implications of ageism I discovered in my secondary research. Considering my grandfather is older, his life has not changed extensively as he spends a majority of his time indoors. Discussing a critical question posed in an article by The Atlantic, “Is the reality that elders are most likely to get ill and die from COVID-19 affecting the way countries—particularly the U.S.—are responding to the pandemic?,” my grandfather’s only criticism laid with the Trump administration; he was in disagreement with the projected ageism discussed in the article. My conversation with my grandfather provides valuable insight into the lives of the elderly during this unprecedented time.

In comparing both of my interviews, there was little to no overlap between the two perspectives my subjects shared. In exploring the cross-generational impacts of the corona-virus, their experiences in fact differ dramatically, but can be mostly attributed to age. Furthermore, the two interviews I conducted left me feeling informed and excited about my findings; the personal narratives I gathered strengthened my piece a great deal. Lastly,  I have not found any outliers in my research thus far.