Positionality and Reflexivity: Recognising and Dismantling Our Privileges in Childhood Research through the Use of Windows and Mirrors

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  • Author(s): Cuevas-Parra, Patricio (ORCID Cuevas-Parra, Patricio (ORCID 0000-0002-7250-7746)
  • Language:
    English
  • Source:
    Global Studies of Childhood. 2023 13(4):295-309.
  • Publication Date:
    2023
  • Document Type:
    Journal Articles
    Reports - Evaluative
  • Additional Information
    • Availability:
      SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: https://sagepub.com
    • Peer Reviewed:
      Y
    • Source:
      15
    • Subject Terms:
      Advantaged; Self Concept; Children; Research; Power Structure; Social Status; Ethics; Researchers; Context Effect; World Views
    • Accession Number:
      10.1177/20436106211052295
    • ISSN:
      2043-6106
    • Abstract:
      This article explores how privileges, identities and worldviews influence every stage of childhood research processes. By using the 'windows and mirrors' and 'the danger of the single story' metaphors, I seek to deconstruct reflexivity and positionality in order to include different lenses of analysis for exploring how power and privileges inform the relationship between researchers and child participants. I argue that this reflexive process needs to pay greater attention to the intersection between identities, inequalities and power, to the impact of researchers feeling sympathy for the marginalised status of the child participant and to the normative and dominant positions that researchers might have based on their social standing. Drawing from my international fieldwork experience, I conclude that an understanding of how identities, power and privileges affect childhood research is critical for conducting ethical research, negotiating power with child participants and dismantling researchers' privileges.
    • Abstract:
      As Provided
    • Publication Date:
      2023
    • Accession Number:
      EJ1400940