Rejecting Rejections: Arts-Based Reflexivity of Untamed Scholarly Identity Development and Sisterhood in Be(com)ing Academics

Yixuan Wang; Shuang Fu

doi:10.29333/ajqr/16647

Yixuan Wang ¹ ^* , Shuang Fu ²

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AM J QUALITATIVE RES, Volume 9, Issue 3, pp. 245-265

https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/16647

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Abstract

Through a series of artworks, we draw from the theory of intersectionality to explore our experiences of navigating rejections received from peer-reviewed academic venues as early career scholars and women of color. This arts-based reflexivity includes visual poetry, AI-collaborated artmaking, and narratives to respond to receiving rejection, an inevitable aspect of developing academic careers. In particular, we respectively share artworks that represent a successful story of publication after various rejections and a story of receiving rejections for different projects. Together, we move beyond the neoliberal academic culture that perceives rejection as failure. Instead, we re-conceptualize the vulnerability from rejection as a bonding sisterhood and mutual growth in our journeys to be(come) scholars.

Keywords: Academic publishing, rejections, arts-based reflexivity, AI, sisterhood

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Citation

Wang, Y., & Fu, S. (2025). Rejecting Rejections: Arts-Based Reflexivity of Untamed Scholarly Identity Development and Sisterhood in Be(com)ing Academics. American Journal of Qualitative Research, 9(3), 245-265. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/16647

Wang, Y., and Fu, S. (2025). Rejecting Rejections: Arts-Based Reflexivity of Untamed Scholarly Identity Development and Sisterhood in Be(com)ing Academics. American Journal of Qualitative Research, 9(3), pp. 245-265. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/16647

Wang Y, Fu S. Rejecting Rejections: Arts-Based Reflexivity of Untamed Scholarly Identity Development and Sisterhood in Be(com)ing Academics. AM J QUALITATIVE RES. 2025;9(3), 245-265. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/16647

Wang, Yixuan, and Shuang Fu. "Rejecting Rejections: Arts-Based Reflexivity of Untamed Scholarly Identity Development and Sisterhood in Be(com)ing Academics". American Journal of Qualitative Research 2025 9 no. 3 (2025): 245-265. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/16647

Wang, Yixuan et al. "Rejecting Rejections: Arts-Based Reflexivity of Untamed Scholarly Identity Development and Sisterhood in Be(com)ing Academics". American Journal of Qualitative Research, vol. 9, no. 3, 2025, pp. 245-265. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/16647

Wang Y, Fu S. Rejecting Rejections: Arts-Based Reflexivity of Untamed Scholarly Identity Development and Sisterhood in Be(com)ing Academics. AM J QUALITATIVE RES. 2025;9(3):245-65. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/16647