IP. Positionality.
Positionality.
We encourage students to build a positionality within their work from an academic but also personal perspective. We discuss how to use this as a tool for context, acknowledging biases, impact on work, identity and a commitment to inclusivity.
Context.
For this Unit writing a Positionality Statement in abstract of context felt a little exploitative. Specifically, within a work environment which this is, there is the possibility that this data could be sensitive and used without an individual consent out of context. I appreciate this is a personal feeling and many others will not share this sentiment but I felt it was important to reflect upon. A Positionality Statement in the context of a piece of work such as a piece of writing, or a bid application makes much more sense to myself, where you share relevant pieces of information that builds a positionality, or for inclusive purposes where is aknowledges positionality. In a tutorial I was gently encouraged to reflect upon the reasons I may not want to share details, and in reality it is not that I don’t want to, I just don’t feel the need to share without it making sense to do so first. You would not ask someone to go on a mile bike ride, then when they ask why or where to, you ask them to reflect on why they may not want to do this. This is an unfair reduction of the exchange with the tutor, and I am sorry for that. Maybe the sense in this scenario is that we are in the Inclusive Design Unit so it is important to understand written statement like this, there is still the work potential conflict of interest.
In the assessed posts, I did build positionalities, I am pretty open around my dyslexia and working class background and introduced other relevant pieces to establish these positionalities. I feel like we need to be mindful and respectful of consent of sharing. In the pursuit of inclusivity this needs to be an inclusive concern. People may not want to share, and that should be ok. Again this is clearly a one sided reflection, and tutors and peers are much smarter than myself so I am sure they would have lots of insightful feedback on this and prove me woefully wrong on this positionality.
Reference List. Bibliography.
Brown, N. (2024). ‘Reflexivity and Positionality in Social Sciences Research. Social Research Association’. Available at https://the-sra.org.uk/SRA/SRA/Blog/ReflexivityandPositionalityinSocialSciencesResearch.aspx#:~:text=The%20positionality%20statement%20is%20very,includes%20considering%20the%20researcher’s%20wellbeing. Last Accessed 05th June 2024.