Dr. Fowler Started an OnlyFans: Narrative, Participation, and Reflexivity.

• In Event: Advances in Qualitative Methods I

Abstract

The participation of in group/out group members in data collection has long been a contentious issue in the social sciences. This is especially true if the research involves marginalized, stigmatized, or oppressed populations. After the release of my first book, The Rise of Digital Sex Work, I attended several conferences and book events, but wanted to try to be more daring with my promotion of the work. Taking a cue from the girl scout troop that set up their cookie table outside a marijuana dispensary, I thought the best way to reach an audience interested in the subject matter was to go to a site filled with exactly those people: so, I started an OnlyFans. The journey revealed new perspectives on in group/out group membership, the value of narrative, and the importance of dynamic reflexivity.

Author

• Kurt Fowler, Penn State Abington