A Self-Reflexive Narrative of Queer Insider-Outsider Social Work Research
Keywords:
Queer, Insider-Outsider, Research, Education, LGBTQ , IdentityAbstract
This article outlines a self-reflexive narrative for queer social work research students navigating the dynamics of conducting queer-led “insider-outsider” research. Personal reflections of conducting queer-led research as a queer gay man within the context of Nelson’s novel queer insider-outsider reflective framework are provided. Key insights involved: (a) The author’s felt sense of joy, belonging, and purpose from connection with other queer Folx; (b) navigating disclosure of the author’s sexuality and positioning as “expert” of their lived experience within a shared queerstory; (c) the meaningful emotional labour of listening to and reading participants’ queerstories; (d) continual vacillation between an “insider” and “outsider”; and (e) a shift towards reclaiming the word “queer” in the author describing their identity. Essential to this experience was challenging the notion of absolute researcher neutrality and being open to questioning and shifting identities in social work research. This article further adds to embedding queer voices and the value of insider-outsider perspectives in the teaching and learning of research in social work education.
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