ABSTRACT
This chapter explores some of the theoretical and analytical dilemmas that are faced when researching physical disability through a nondisabled body. It demonstrates how maintaining an embodied, reflexive, empathetic, reflective and inductive approach in the field was central throughout the ethnographic process, from access, to undertaking multiple researcher roles, to the eventual development of rapport and intimatecy. Empathy, or putting oneself in the place of the other, is assumed to be a key feature of 'virtuous' qualitative research. The chapter highlights how embracing the physical nature of reality and the fleshiness of life is essential to interpreting the lives of others. The ability to 'participate' in the production of social behaviour is a major strength of ethnography; however it also raises a number of methodological and analytical dilemmas. Developing rapport in the field is central to exploring the lives of others and is particularly important when collecting sensitive data on the body and physical disability.
