Researching "race" in lesbian space: a critical reflection

Held, N

Abstract

Feminist researchers have acknowledged that racial differences between researcher and researched impact on the research process; however, there has been little concern with how “race” is actually made in/through the research process. If we think “race” as performative and as always in the process of being made then this theoretical claim has crucial implications for research encounters. In this article the author draws on her own research, which focuses on processes of racialization. This ethnographic study was conducted in two lesbian bars in the North West of England. The article illustrates different ways of how “race,” in particular Whiteness, operated during the research process. The author critically reflects on her role in “race making” during this process and highlights the importance of acknowledging that researchers are also complicit in this making when doing research where “race” is not the central focus.

Citation

Held, N. (2022). Researching "race" in lesbian space: a critical reflection. In R. Ryan-Flood, & A. Rooke (Eds.), Queering Methodology: Lessons and Dilemmas from Lesbian Lives (88-99). Oxon/New York: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003302469

• Online Publication Date: Oct 20, 2022
• Publication Date: Oct 20, 2022
• Deposit Date: Mar 6, 2023
• Publisher: Routledge
• Pages: 88-99
• Book Title: Queering Methodology: Lessons and Dilemmas from Lesbian Lives
• ISBN: 9781032298726
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003302469
• Publisher URL: https://www-routledge-com.salford.idm.oclc.org/Queering-Methodology-Lessons-and-Dilemmas-from-Lesbian-Lives/Ryan-Flood-Rooke/p/book/9781032298726