ABSTRACT
“What does it mean to belong?” I asked my six- and nine-year-old. As they gave their answers and shared their joy at feeling seen and included, I was reminded of my own experiences and research. I wondered to myself, what does belonging mean to me personally and professionally? What could an embodiment of these feelings and experiences look like? This chapter explores these questions using arts-based research in the form of a fictionalized children's picture book. From years of academic research, in particular studies with and about motherscholars, the Story of Being Square highlights the visceral feelings around being seen, heard, and valued, or the lack thereof. Ultimately, the chapter story showcases the potential of transdisciplinary feminist research to hold space, acknowledge, connect, and transgress normative formats of knowledge, power, and positioning to create more equitable and inclusive futures.
