Insider-Outsider and the Space Between: Researcher Identity Politics and Equity Practices

Overview: Panelists will engage in discussion of their lived experiences navigating multiple identities as equity researchers. Discussion will include the previous literature, the current state of reflexive, equity-based research practices, limitations and strengths of being an insider, an outsider, and/or in-between, and the implications for equity focused research.Proposal text: Researchers who conduct participatory action research, community-engaged research, and research with vulnerable communities have historically been called upon to examine their identity and positionality to those communities. Simply put, one’s identity impacts how research is produced. Thus, reflexivity on one’s race, class, socio-economic status, gender, culture, ability, age, and sexual orientation is key to ethical, equitable, and responsible research practices. This process also calls for researchers to explore their insider-outsider positionality to the communities they study. Insiders mirror the identities of, and/or come from, the same communities they study. Outsiders have different identities from the communities they study. Previous literature has provided the pros and cons of each position. Of particular importance is recognition that communities who have been under-represented or misrepresented in research benefit from researchers with an insider perspective. This is often considered essential to equity-based research. However, more recent literature calls for consideration of the in-between spaces and the fluidity and layers of identity that create the need for deeper reflection and awareness.

The authors will present their lived experiences of navigating multiple identities as equity researchers. Discussion will include the previous literature, the current state of reflexive, equity- based research practices, limitations and strengths of being an insider, an outsider, or in-between.