Abstract
This article explores the role of reflexivity, emotion work and insider/outsider researcher status in one queer researcher’s experiences of conducting fieldwork. Through exploring field diaries and interview extracts, this article highlights the impact of being/researching LGBT+ identities as a queer researcher. Five experiences are discussed: (i) the euphoria of connection, (ii) relationships with participants, (iii) retraumatisation through listening, (iv) finding oneself on the outside and (v) the researcher’s shifting identity. The article concludes with suggestions on the impact studying one’s own identity can have on the researcher, and suggestions for engaging in similar research practices.
Highlights
This article explores the role of reflexivity, emotion work and insider/outsider researcher status in one queer researcher’s experiences of conducting fieldwork
Some authors have drawn on their experience researching LGBT+ populations as LGBT people (Hayfield and Huxley, 2015; Walby, 2010)
Counter to many narratives around both emotion work and being LGBT, this paper offers an opportunity to explore the feelings of euphoria that can stem from studying/being LGBT
Summary
This article explores the role of reflexivity, emotion work and insider/outsider researcher status in one queer researcher’s experiences of conducting fieldwork. Keywords Queer theory, reflexivity, emotion work, insider research, outsider research, LGBT, identity, sexuality, gender This article uses an analytic autoethnography to explore my experiences as a bisexual/ queer non-binary person researching LGBT issues.
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