Positionality in Critical Feminist Scholarship: Situating Social Locations and Power Within Knowledge Production

Abstract

What do we mean by positionality in critical feminist scholarship? And how is positionality integrated throughout every level of the process of knowledge production-from conception and authorship to publication and dissemination? These are questions our editorial board most recently re-engaged in Affilia's ongoing commitment to keeping the theory and practice of critical feminisms animated, evolving, and relevant. In a previous editorial, the Affilia editorial board collectively articulated a set of critical feminist principles and practices for feminist inquiry in social work meant to provide guidance for Affilia authors and reviewers (Goodkind et al., 2021). The process of collectively developing these was generative for us-enabling us to specify, interrogate, and clarify our guiding assumptions and beliefs. One of the principles of critical feminisms we described was the importance of positionality and of "be[ing] transparent and reflexive in analyzing and detailing the impact of who we are on the research we conduct-in terms of questions we ask, methods we use, and our interpretations and analysis of our data" (p. 483).Those who have submitted manuscripts to Affilia might have noticed that, in requests for revisions, we often ask authors to discuss their positionality and how it has affected their research. While many submissions already do this, many others do not. Too often-both in manuscripts we receive and those that appear in other journals-authors who do list their identities fail to describe how their social location affected their scholarship. Perhaps this is because they understand positionality to be static or simply a box to be checked. Not all scholars have had the opportunity to learn about the crucial role of integrating a thoughtful and thorough discussion of positionality in rigorous scholarship nor is this encouraged throughout most of our field. With the goal of providing guidance for incorporating positionality, the Affilia editorial board recently engaged in a collective discussion to more specifically address this critical issue. This editorial presents our collaborative efforts to articulate considerations and questions focused on positionality to enhance our work as a board and the work of researchers, authors, and reviewers.Before offering these considerations and questions, we provide a brief background on the importance and history of positionality. We emphasize that describing our positionalities and how they shape our research is an essential component of critical feminist praxis. It is a way of practicing accountability for who we are, why we do the research we do, the questions we ask, and the things we find interesting and important (or not). Incorporation of positionality in our analysis and writing is not meant to discount or overly elevate ourselves nor to serve as rote steps to a set of edifying rules. Rather, integration of positionality is an essential component of conducting socially just research.We come to the Affilia editorial board and this editorial as critical femin...

Member checking: A brief metalogue of a career interview

“…Though seldom explicitly acknowledged as metalogues, the insights garnered from these observations often find expression in editorials, which can significantly influence peer review practices. For instance, recent editorials published in Affilia : Feminist Inquiry in Social Work have involved the editorial board in discussions about principles and practices (Goodkind et al, 2021) and the role of positionality in feminist scholarship (Jackson et al, 2024). These editorials effectively serve as consensus statements on what the journal considers to be best practices.…”

Critical Feminism Under Critical Conditions: Violence, Silence, and Resistance

“…What is the path forward for critical feminist social work? Much of what is vital for critical feminist social work remains constant: asking disruptive questions, being present in the work, attending to positionality, and building collective strategies in the face of opposition and unabashed hate (Jackson et al, 2024). Our own commitment remains steadfast: to foster a space where Affilia's writers and readers can challenge power structures, democratize knowledge, nurture scholar-activists, and reimagine futures.…”