The Body, Authenticity and Racism

Embodying the least‐adult role

“…It was a key way in which they bonded with each other and got a sense of who belonged and who did not. This had real implications for inter-ethnic relations, as I have discussed elsewhere (Garratt, 2017(Garratt, , 2018(Garratt, , 2019, but also for their interactions with me.…”

“…The logic behind this method is that the researcher must be oriented towards children differently than other adults, in order to access what is often kept concealed from them. The substantive findings of this work are available elsewhere (Curry et al, 2011;Garratt, 2017Garratt, , 2018Garratt, , 2019Scholtz & Gilligan, 2017). The focus of this article is on the ethical dilemmas and opportunities of the least-adult positionality.…”

“…I explained the research in appropriate terms, and read the age-specific information leaflet with the children. I made sure the children understood I would be observing them during class and break times, and would interview them individually or in small groups according to their preference (Garratt, 2018). At all times during the research introduction, in one-to-one explanations and throughout the fieldwork I emphasised that they were not obliged to take part and they could stop at any time.…”

“…As a white woman from the majority community, my physical body had, and has, many complex implications for fieldwork and my scholarship on racism. For a full discussion, please see Garratt (2018). With regards to its effect on my positionality of the least-adult role, without doubt my white body allowed me access to the racist opinions of the white majority children.…”

“…With regards to its effect on my positionality of the least-adult role, without doubt my white body allowed me access to the racist opinions of the white majority children. It is hard to imagine they would have disclosed as much of their racialising behaviour to a researcher of colour (Garratt, 2017(Garratt, , 2018(Garratt, , 2019. This had ethically challenging implications.…”