Tightrope Walking: Role of Researcher and Activist in Ethnographic Studies of Social Movements

• In Event: 237 - Informal Discussion Roundtable Session

Abstract

I am proposing a focus on ethnography to addresses the issues faced by current researchers who are participants in the social movement under study. To embody the role of both “Insider” and “Outsider” is a classic stance that sociologists engaged in qualitative work strive for. Ethnographic Participation demands acceptance of ‘tight rope walking’ two sides that often seem at odds. The role of insider is often accompanied by emotional ‘costs’ to the researcher, just as the role of outsider draws concerns of possible emotional exploitation of subjects. Of course there is not a single set of ground rules for all ethnographic participation but there are contextual similarities and ethical dilemmas across movements that would be helpful to discuss among researchers. I think it would be worthy of such a discussion to include: the purpose and tensions of reciprocity in ethnographic social movement research, the ethics of using allies in a movement as subjects, the emotional toll of movement work as both a researcher and a participant, and how much ‘self’ gets put into the writing up of the work. Ideally this would be helpful for those starting this work, writing up their work, and those exploring methodological concerns in their writing. This ‘tightrope’ dilemma is now riddled with 21st century issues, including but not limited to ‘round the clock’ activism due to the role of social media in current social movements, as well as the current lack of anonymity that most 21st century activists involved in social movements experience today.

Author

• Teal Kristen Rothschild, Roger Williams University