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Why is Rogue in Vogue? Ethnographies on Gangs, Drugs, and Sex Work

Mon, August 18, 4:30 to 6:10pm, TBA

Abstract

In recent years, ethnographers from multiple schools have continued to expand these efforts with well circulated ethnographies on race relations (Wacquant 2004), urban poverty (Anderson 2000; Bourgois 1996), and gender relations (Bernstein 2007). Pioneered by Sudhir Venketesh (Venkatesh 2008, 2013) ethnography is beginning to take a different empirical turn, one that embraces a new genre of “rogue” sociology. In this new moment is it important to reflect not only on what it means to be a rogue sociologist, but to think deeply about the methodological and epistemological implications of what it means to get your pants dirty (as Parks would say), or go “rogue” (in the words Venkateh), in dangerous or illicit spaces. Most importantly, however, this paper engages with—and begins to question—the feminist methodological and epistemological frameworks that encourage researchers to be reflexive about their positionality and to write themselves into their texts. This article grapples with some of the complex issues that arise with respect to researchers reflexive positionality in ethnographies that involve going rouge in illicit spaces of gangs, drugs, and sex work.

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