Abstract

Most of the research literature on peer rejection either blames the victim or concentrates on finding patterns in the process of rejection. The perspectives of the children being rejected have been given surprisingly little attention, while the perspectives of adults thinking back on their experience has yet to be investigated. This study examines the memories of four women (one of who is myself) who were rejected as children in school, and is written from a phenomenological standpoint. In addition to conducting a self-study, the research involved interviewing participants about their memories of childhood experiences, and incorporated the use of memory prompts, such as photographs and drawings. Through analyzing and reflecting on the images, memory accounts, and interviews, I explore and describe what it can feel like to be excluded or bullied by others in school. The data analysis was conducted by looking for and testing common themes that describe the essential nature of each participant's experience. This was followed by the writing and rewriting of phenomenological descriptions of the experiences. The findings highlight both differences and commonalties in coping strategies used by the participants to deal with their situations, and provide an in-depth look at the traces that childhood experiences can leave on adult memory. In the concluding chapter, the participants themselves offer advice to parents and educators dealing with peer rejection.