Areas of interest
- gerontology
- narrative theory and methodology
- life story reflection
- later life masculinities
- narrative gerontology
Gabriela Spector-Mersel, PhD, is a senior lecturer in the school of social work at Sapir College. She is the Chairperson of the interest group in Qualitative Research and advisor of narrative research interest groups, in Mofet institute. Her research interests include narrative identity, narrative gerontology, narrative analysis and life story reflection. She has published papers and chapters in these fields and authored the book, Sabras Don't Age: Life Stories of Senior Officers from Israel’s 1948 Generation (Magnes). She also co-edited the first comprehensive book in Hebrew on narrative research, titled, Narrative Research: Theory, Production and Interpretation (2010, Magnes and Mofet).
Research in progress
The experience of COVID-19 among holocaust survivors who immigrated from the former Sovier Union (with N. Khvorostianov)
2005 |
Prochovnic
Award for the best research on aging, Israeli Gerontological Society |
2008 |
The
Excellent qualitative research award, The Israeli association for researching
the multidimensional person |
2009-2010 |
Post-Doctoral fellowship, The ISEF Foundation |
2009-2011 |
Post-Doctoral
fellowship, Israeli Council for higher education (Planning & budgeting
committee), and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel |
*2018 |
Outstanding
Lecturer, School of Social Work, Sapir Academic College |
*2018 |
Outstanding
researcher, Sapir Academic College |
*2019 |
Outstanding
Lecturer, School of Social Work, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel |
*2019 |
Excellence
faculty award, Sapir Academic College |
*2020 |
Excellence
faculty award, Sapir Academic College |
*2021 |
Excellence
faculty award, Sapir Academic College |
Spector-Mersel, G. & Ben-Asher, S. (2022).
Styles of narrative selection in crafting life stories. Qualitative
Research in Psychology, 19(1), 43-64. https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2018.1545064
Spector-Mersel, G. (2021) Narrative interpretation
and the selection mechanisms model. In M. Lavie-Ajai and D. Lavie
Tobin (Eds.), Conversations on qualitative research (pp.
232-253). Mofet (Hebrew). https://store.macam.ac.il/store/books/3604/
Szeintuch, S., Spector-Mersel, G., Maor, T., Metzer,
R. (2021, Advanced access). “I was born into a nightmare”: The chaotic
life trajectories of young homeless women. Journal of the Society for
Social Work and Research.
https://doi.org/10.1086/717072
Spector-Mersel, G. & Gilbar, O.
(2021). From Military Masculinity towards Hybrid Masculinities:
Constructing a New Sense of Manhood among Veterans Treated for PTSS. Men
and Masculinities, 24(5), 862-883.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1097184X211038049
Spector-Mersel, G. (2021). Ageism. In
U. Ram, S. Svirsky and N. Berkoviz (Eds.), The Sociological Lexicon for
Corona times (p. 45-46). Israeli Sociology and Adva Center. (Hebrew).
https://adva.org/he/lexicon-corona/
Spector-Mersel, G. (2021). Life story
reflection in human professions education: Theoretical and practical
considerations. In N. Dvir & A. Gidron (Eds.), Narrative pedagogy (pp.
31-50). Mofet (Hebrew).
https://store.macam.ac.il/store/books/3205/
Ben-Asher, S. & Spector-Mersel, G. (2021).
Growth and pain in life-story reflection of students in helping
professions. Teaching in Higher Education.
https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2021.1911989
Hochman, Y & Spector-Mersel, G. (2020) Three strategies for narrative resistance: Navigating between master narratives. British Journal of Social Psychology, 59, 1043-1061.
https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.12376
Gilbar, O., Dekel, R. & Spector-Mersel, G. & Levy, O. (2019). The crisis in achieving a sense of manhood
among Israeli military veterans who suffer from posttraumatic stress
symptoms. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 20(1),
93-103. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/men0000148
Spector-Mersel, G. & Knaifel, Y. (2017). Narrative research
on mental health recovery: Two sister paradigms. Journal of Mental
Health, 27(4), 298-306.
https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2017.1340607
Spector-Mersel, G. (2017). Life story reflection in social work
education: A practical model. Journal of Social Work Education, 53(2),
286-299.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2016.1243498
Spector-Mersel, G. (2014). “I was… Until… Since then…”:
Exploring the mechanisms of selection in a tragic narrative. Narrative
Works, 4(1), 19-48. https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/NW/article/view/21572
Spector-Mersel, G. (2014). Guest Editor`s introduction: Multiplicity
and commonality in narrative interpretation. Narrative Works, 4(1),
1-18.
https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/NW/article/view/21571/25057
Spector-Mersel, G. & Doron, I. (2014). Guest Editors`
introduction: Aging in Israel: Research and practice. Society &Welfare,
34(2), 147-151. (Hebrew).
Spector-Mersel, G. (2012). The story is not the whole story: The
narrative identity card. Megamot, 48(2), 227-250. (Hebrew).
Spector-Mersel, G. (2012). The question of truth and narrative
research. In N. Barzel (Ed.), Memory, culture, and the therapeutic discourse
(pp. 9-14). Oranim College. (Hebrew).
Spector-Mersel, G. (2011). Mechanisms of selection in claiming
narrative identities: A model for interpreting narratives. Qualitative
Inquiry, 17(2), 172-185.
https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1077800410393885
Spector-Mersel, G. (2011). Narrative research as an interpretive
paradigm. Shvilei Mechkar, 17, 63-72. (Hebrew). http://library.macam.ac.il/study/pdf_files/d10593.pdf
Spector-Mersel, G. (2011). Guest Editor. Shvilei Mechkar, 17.
Special issue: Qualitative Research. (Hebrew).
Spector-Mersel, G. (2010). Narrative research: Time for a Paradigm.
Narrative Inquiry, 20(1), 205-225. https://doi.org/10.1075/ni.20.1.10spe
Spector-Mersel, G. (2010). Old age in Israel as a cultural
phenomenon. Adult Education in Israel, 11, 15-34.
Spector-Mersel, G. (2006). Never-aging stories: Western
hegemonic masculinity scripts. Journal of Gender Studies, 15(1),
67-82.
https://doi.org/10.1080/09589230500486934
Spector-Mersel, G. (2006). Israeli old age: Three sources of meaning. Gerontology, 33(2), 11-34. (Hebrew).
Selected Lectures and Presentations
Spector-Mersel, G. (August, 2021).Older adults under fire in times of COVID-19: Cumulative traumatic situation. The ministry of Science and Technology, Israel.
Spector-Mersel, G. (September, 2020). Aging,
gender, feminism: A research perspective. Between sexism and agism: Issues in
Feminist Gerontology, Webinar, Israel.
Spector-Mersel, G. (February, 2020). "There`s no young-old. We`re all students:
Older individuals` experience of participating in an intergenerational academic
course, The 23rd. biennial conference of the Israel Gerontological Society,
Tel-Aviv, Israel
Spector-Mersel, G. (February, 2020). Encounters from the intergenerational kind: Changes in professional perspectives, knowledge and values among social work students studying in an intergenerational academic course, The 23rd. biennial conference of the Israel Gerontological Society, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
Spector-Mersel, G. (July, 2018).
Life story reflection in forming human services professionals. Narrative
Matters, Enschede, The Netherlands.
Spector-Mersel, G. &
Ben-Asher, S. (July, 2018). Styles of narrative selection in crafting life
stories. Narrative Matters, Enschede, The Netherlands.
Spector-Mersel, G. & Regev,
I. (February, 2018). A dialogue with time: A retrospective journey between
life-times following a joint academic course to young and older students. The 22nd
biennial conference of the Israel Gerontological Society, Tel Aviv.
Spector-Mersel, G. (February,
2018). Life story reflection in human professions` education. The 7th Israeli
conference for Qualitative Research, Beer Sheva.
Spector-Mersel, G. (February,
2018). Identifying the mechanisms of selection as a method for analyzing
narratives. The 7th Israeli conference for Qualitative Research, Beer Sheva.
Gilbar, O., Spector-Mersel, G.
& Sa`ar-Heyman, Y. (February, 2018). How to respond to the needs of
Doctoral students conducting qualitative research? A dialogic session. The 7th
Israeli conference for Qualitative Research, Beer Sheva.
Ben Asher, S. &
Spector-Mersel, G. (February, 2018). The art of crafting life stories. The 7th
Israeli conference for Qualitative Research, Beer Sheva.
Spector-Mersel, G. (June, 2017).
Enhancing life story reflection in social work education: Theoretical and
practical considerations. EASSW-UNAFORIS, Social work education in Europe:
Challenging boundaries, promoting a sustainable future, Paris, France.
Spector-Mersel, G. (November,
2017). Growing old without being old: A-integration among Sabra elderly. The
19th conference of social workers, Tel-Aviv.
Spector-Mersel, G. & Regev,
I. (October, 2017). Students and veterans from Gaza envelope learning
development: A qualitative evaluation research. Sapir College academic faculty
conference: Research exposure day, Sderot.
Spector-Mersel, G. (June, 2017).
"Since then I'm bound to the chair": Narrative time and physical
disability in a life story of Sabra Older man. Somatic Times, Jerusalem,
Israel.
Gilbar, O, Dekel, R,
Spector-Mersel, G & Levy, O. (May, 2017). The crisis in masculine identity
among Israeli military veterans who suffer from PTSS. International conference
on trauma and mental health, Jerusalem, Israel.
Spector-Mersel, G. (December,
2016). Caregiving for the older person by family members: An inter-cultural
view. Familial Panorama: A conference on family members caring for the older
person. Sapir Academic College, Sderot (Hebrew).
Spector-Mersel, G. (November, 2016).
Preserving a masculine self in face of illness and disability: The case of
older Sabra men. International conference on narratives of health and illness,
Tenerife, Spain.
Spector-Mersel, G. (June, 2016).
Sabra identity against “others”: Senior Officers of 1948 in Later Life. The
32nd Annual Conference of the Association for Israel Studies, Jerusalem,
Israel.
Spector-Mersel, G. (March, 2016).
Re-thinking ethics in narrative research: The case of biographical research
with older adults. The 3rd International Irish Narrative Inquiry Conference,
Galway, Ireland.
Spector-Mersel, G. (March, 2015).
Life story reflection stimulating socio-political engagement: A three-phased
model. Life History and Biography Network, ESREA – European Society for
Research on the Education of Adults, Milano, Italy.
Spector-Mersel, G. (February,
2016). Silencing, omission and “appropriate” meaning attribution: Between the
what and the why in narrative analysis. The 7th Israeli conference for
Qualitative Research, Beer Sheva.
Spector-Mersel, G. (February,
2016). Life stories and identity needs among Israeli older adults. The 21st
biennial conference of the Israel Gerontological Society, Tel Aviv.
Spector-Mersel, G. (January,
2016). Loneliness among older adults in Western Negev`s settlements. Challenges
and opportunities unique to Social Work in peripheral areas: Roundtable (panel
moderator and presentation), Sapir College.
Spector-Mersel, G. (June, 2014),
(Still) exploring big stories: The narrative identity card. Narrative Matters,
Paris, France.
Spector-Mersel, G. (February,
2014). Life story reflection in social work education: An application of
narrative analysis. The 6th Israeli conference for Qualitative Research, Beer
Sheva.
Gilbar, O., Dekel, R. and
Spector-Mersel, G. (February, 2014). Navigating between identities: A proposal
for a parallel process in post-traumatic growth. The 6th Israeli conference for
Qualitative Research, Beer Sheva.
Spector-Mersel, G. (January,
2014). Life story research with older people: Reconsidering research ethics.
The 20th biennial conference of the Israel Gerontological Society, Tel Aviv.
Spector-Mersel, G. (September,
2013). A-integration and the never-aging masculinity scripts (roundtable:
Theorizing masculinities and ageing). British Gerontological Society, Oxford,
England.
Spector-Mersel, G. (December,
2012). Narratives of coping (plenary lecture). Conference for the international
day of people with disability, The open University, Ra`anana (Hebrew).
Spector-Mersel, G. (May, 2012).
Mechanisms of selection in claiming narrative identities. Narrative Matters,
Paris, France.
Stern Perez, A., &
Spector-Mersel, G. (May, 2012). Retelling, reprocessing, and resilience: An analytical
tool for comparative assessment of narratives of trauma. Narrative Matters,
Paris, France.
Spector-Mersel, G. (February,
2012). Reflective discourse: Conceptualization and practice (plenary lecture).
A national learning day, Ministry of Education. Mofet, Tel-Aviv (Hebrew).
Spector-Mersel, G. (February,
2012). Maintaining an adult and masculine identity among Israeli men from
1948`s generation who employ a foreign home worker. The 19th biennial
conference of the Israel Gerontological Society, Tel Aviv.
Spector-Mersel, G. (February,
2012). Mechanisms of selection in claiming a narrative identity. The 5th
Israeli conference for Qualitative Research, Beer Sheva.
Spector-Mersel, G. (February,
2012). Post-conference workshop: Mechanisms of selection in storied identities:
A method for analyzing narratives. The 5th Israeli conference for Qualitative
Research, Beer Sheva.
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