Beyond the Calculus of Power and Position: Relationships and Theorizing in Ethnography

Abstract

Ethnography is made of relationships. Even when the observations the ethnographer writes of take place between others in the field, it is through the development of relationships that data are generated and through a particular relationship that interpretation is offered. In this introduction to the special issue about relationships and theorizing in ethnography, I outline three relevant dimensions of such relationships that aren't captured by current debates that center on power dynamics in the field: (a) Alignment. Going beyond the trifecta of race, class, and gender, I suggest that a key element of positionality includes the ways in which the ethnographer’s projects align (or purposely fail to align) with those of her interlocutors; (b) Temporality. Thinking seriously about time allows us to appreciate how differences in the temporal arcs of research modulate the narrative arcs of theory as well as set the stage for the afterlife of participant observation in the process of writing and publishing; and (c) Place. As relationships deepen, ethnographers often find themselves in new spaces, complementing the temporality of narrative arcs with a different landscape of social theory. Doing so, this article calls for renewed attention to the way in which the patterned structure of relationships in the field shapes how ethnographers theorize their work.

What Do We Mean By a “Hard-to-reach” Population? Legitimacy Versus Precarity as Barriers to Access

“…To what extent are the barriers identified above relevant for other hard-to-reach populations? Historically, social scientists have distinguished hard-to-reach populations by categorizing populations as “studying up” or “studying down.” The “studying up” and “studying down” distinction is not only problematic in implying a value judgment (Tavory 2019), but it is also unhelpful and irrelevant. There are arguably more similarities in gaining access to observations inside a prison and inside a Manhattan hedge fund (Neely 2018) and gaining access to women returning home from prison and unemployed middle-class professionals (Rao 2020).…”

“As long as we stick together everything is going to be OK”: An Examination of Aotearoa's Far-Right Subculture on 4chan.

“…I acknowledge that lurking exacerbates the risk of power imbalances between myself as the researcher and those being studied, as the researcher is coming from a place of privilege (Tavory, 2019) and ultimately gets to control the narrative in their work. However, if I were to identify myself as a researcher within the 4chan far-right community, I would be exposed to thousands of individuals who have the potential to mobilise and use surveillance and intimidation techniques.…”