Intersectional reflexivity: Fieldwork experiences of ethnic minority women researchers

Abstract

AbstractIn this paper, we illustrate the usefulness of intersectional reflexivity as an approach for researchers to reflect on their role with more nuance. This approach highlights the importance of reflexivity accounts engaging in more nuanced reflection that considers how intersecting socially constructed categories of difference are mobilized during research exchanges to negotiate positionality and the resulting instances of researcher privilege and disadvantage. We exemplify the value of intersectional reflexivity by using our own experiences as ethnic minority women researchers in patriarchal settings to show that gendered, racio‐ethnicized, aged, and classed dynamics in interactions and exchanges are not immediately obvious. We argue that a purposeful framework that embeds the intersectional lens into reflexive efforts is needed to understand researcher experiences as riddled with both privilege and disadvantage, where both researchers and participants have power and invoke particular intersectional identities to reposition themselves and each other in their interactions. The paper calls for more attention to the co‐constructed nature of research exchanges to inform the way the researcher's self‐accountability is problematized and reported.