Multiple and Fluid Positionalities in Community Research With Socially Excluded Families: A Case for Reflexive Sociology

Abstract

Intersectionality and positionality are critical issues to consider in community research. Drawing on ten years of research in white, working-class communities in Northwestern England (WILSON, 2024a), I present a critical reflection on the temporal and structural dimensions of positionality through the application of reflexive sociology (BOURDIEU & WACQUANT, 1992). Focusing specifically on my maternal positionality and my journey from being a childless researcher into that of a mother, I attempt to articulate the complex task of negotiating the intersectionalities of class, gender and motherhood in community research in areas experiencing economic disadvantage. The centrality of relational practice is highlighted as key in overcoming potential conflicts or discrepancies in identities or positionalities, thus helping to build trust in the research context.