An 'outsider within

Considering positionality and reflexivity in research on HIV-positive adolescent mothers in South Africa

Datos Bibliográficos

ID2404052
AutoresAdeagbo Morolake Josephine (0000-0001-8808-4197, University of Johannesburg, autor de correspondencia)
Año2021
Volumen21
Número2
Páginas181-194
Fecha de publicación2021-04-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaQualitative Research (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1468-7941 • E-ISSN: 1741-3109
EditorialSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1468794120922072
OpenAlexW3034154514
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas24
Referencias citadas54

Using a feminist theoretical framework, this article reflects on the issues of power between 'the researched' and 'the researcher' and highlights the problematic of shared identities and dissimilarities. The article considers the epistemological challenges encountered by a Black female (mother) 'foreigner' researcher and the gendered implications of the insider-outsider binary in conducting doctoral research. Additionally, this article presents the personal reflections of the 'outsider within' during data collection, in order to contribute to ongoing dialogue on researchers' reflexivity and positionality in qualitative research. It is the researcher's responsibility to make a conscious effort in comprehending how paramount her position is, in order to negotiate and reflect relevant spaces during fieldwork. This article concludes that the insider/outsider dynamics do not necessarily work against the researcher/researched but could be appreciated for adding nuance and ambiguity to research

Ambiguity · Epistemology · Insider · Negotiation · Qualitative research · Reflexivity · Social science · Sociology · Data Analysis and Archiving · Gender Studies · Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics · Social Science and Policy Research