Relationship-building in research: gendered identity construction in researcher-participant interaction
Date
2016
Authors
Stahl, G.
Editors
Ward, M.
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Book chapter
Citation
Source details - Title: Gender Identity and Research Relationships, 2016 / Ward, M. (ed./s), Ch.8, pp.145-165
Statement of Responsibility
Conference Name
Abstract
Purpose - To understand how research-participant relationships are formed in research settings through experiences and analyses of contentspecific gendered identity practices. Methodology/approach - I draw upon a school-based ethnographically informed study exploring the construction of masculinities among white working-class boys in three schools in South London, United Kingdom between 2009 and 2011. To access participants perceptions, I used a methodology of observation, focus groups, semi-structured interviews and visual methods. Findings - Themes of gendered embodiment, physicality and performance play a part in the formation of relationships in this study. Furthermore, such themes play a role - to varying degrees - in researcher-participant relationship-building. In understanding relationship-building practices, I make connections to my own reflexivity accounting for the multifaceted nature of identities, lifestyles and perspectives present in researcher-participant interaction. Originality/value - Throughout the fieldwork, constructs of gender, nationality and class all contributed to how relationships were built. In navigating the power relations innate to all relationship-building, I discuss how I capitalised on my outsider status in terms of nationality to neutralise certain elements of class and gender that were normative to my participants, but, simultaneously, draw upon my insider status in terms of knowledge of the locale, humour and clothing which contributed greatly to how the relationships were constructed and maintained.
School/Discipline
Dissertation Note
Provenance
Description
Access Status
Rights
Copyright 2016 by Emerald Group Publishing Limited