Navigating the Hyphen
Reflexive Positionality in Migrant Research
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7577/rerm.5959Keywords:
Positionality; autoethnography; migrant teachers; Epistemic justice; South Africa.Abstract
This study explores the complexities of researcher positionality within migration research, focusing on Zimbabwean migrant teachers in South Africa. Employing an autoethnographic approach, it examines the fluid insider-outsider dynamics shaped by overlapping identities and socio-political contexts. Drawing on concepts such as translocational positionality and intersectionality, the research highlights how shifting positionalities influence both the research process and knowledge production. Reflexivity is central to addressing power dynamics and ensuring epistemic justice by centring the voices of marginalised groups. The study contributes to migration research by problematising traditional insider-outsider binaries and emphasising the ethical significance of transparency. Ultimately, this research calls for a nuanced understanding of positionality, demonstrating its importance in producing credible and inclusive knowledge that respects the lived experiences of migrant communities.
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