Reflexive voicing: a communicative approach to intersectional writing

Abstract

Intersectionality has increasing traction in interdisciplinary inquiry, yet questions remain about qualitative intersectional methods. In particular, scholars have yet to consider how to write qualitative research in the service of intersectionality. Drawing upon my disciplinary training in communication studies, I argue that the field's theoretical grounding offers useful resources for advancing intersectional writing. Because communication theory posits that symbols both reflect and make reality, it resonates with an intersectional desire to simultaneously describe and transform the world through critical analysis. Using exemplars from communication scholars, I highlight how this interplay of approaches can advance identity politics and trouble identity categories. Furthermore this approach can help qualitative writers to link what some perceive to be distinct 'levels' of analysis. By discussing techniques for coupling reflexivity and voice, I make communication theory intelligible for intersectional writing and also invite communication studies to become more intersectional.

Forum Introduction: Queering the “Closet” at Work

“…For instance, the essays focus on interactions that render the closet's contents unstable, and the authors demonstrate processes via which the walls and doors of the closet-much less the identities of workers who experience it-never settle. Both these readings-one that strategically essentializes, one that emphasizes fluidity-are consistent with the dilemmas and productive tensions characteristic of intersectional and feminist work (Harris, 2016a(Harris, , 2016b.…”

Writing the doctoral thesis differently

“…Notably, such conversations about writing differently have often been framed as unbinding academics from the limitations of what we can do with our scholarship. The potential for writing differently in management has been highlighted as being useful for understanding methodological or theoretical commitments (Kara, 2013), processing emotions and vulnerability and incorporating them into the conceptual understanding of a project (Kara, 2013; Page, 2017), responding emotively to a social issue (Sayers and Jones, 2015), engendering transformation or activism (Harris, 2016; Vachhani, 2015), actively disrupting management conventions and processes (Grey and Sinclair, 2006; Phillips et al, 2014) and making academic writing more pleasurable to write and to read (Grey and Sinclair, 2006). In short, writing differently can open up the critical and creative potential of research to assist scholars in making a more interesting and creative contribution to the study of management; a key requirement of the doctoral thesis.…”

The role of triangulation in sensitive art-based research with children

“…Another factor that may have contributed to under-reporting was that Catherine was considered unique as a white foreigner in a rural area where many people had never interacted with a white person. The students may have wanted to impress her by telling her how good their school is or to shape her portrayal of the school to an "outsider" community (Harris, 2015). While she attracted attention in both schools, this effect may have combined with her stronger presence in the town school to lead to reduced negative reporting.…”