Inside/out: Challenges of conducting research in lesbian communities

ABSTRACT

Conducting research within one's own community can present challenges that are rarely addressed by graduate education, articles, or books on research design. Binary notions of insider and outsider are too simplistic; rather insider/outsider positions exist on a continuum. This article explores how the researcher's shifting position affects every aspect of a study of lesbian, bisexual, and/or queer women. Helpful theoretical frameworks include feminist research principles and intersectionality, and the article ends with lessons learned about tackling taboo topics, sensitivity to language, embracing diversity, researcher reputation, and looking upstream for solutions.

KeyWords:

• Research methods
• intersectionality
• feminist research
• lesbian
• bisexual queer women

Funding

This project was funded in part by a contract from the Office on Women's Health to Impaq International in Oakland, CA (Contract # HHSP233420095615). The opinions expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the funding agency.

Notes on contributor

Michele J. Eliason, Ph.D., has over 25 years of experience conducting LGBTQ-related research about identity formation, health care provider attitudes, substance abuse, mental health, and physical health issues, in rural and urban populations.