Introduction to Blog 3
My positionality statement on Discrimination: Ethical Discrimination-Race, Colour, Sex against women, Reading Materials/Ethical Research Reference, Politics, Social/Society and Rationale.
with reference to my practice PGCERT workshop 5_6 Racism Blog Task # 3 15/06/2024Posted on 19th June 2024 by Michael Ste. Croix
Regardless of race, creed, or colour; opportunities should be available to all. As a Technical Coordinator Performance, Technical and Teaching Resources, working as Central Saint Martins. We must be committed to this aim. The inclusivity and understanding of the intersectionality of identities within the LGBTQ plus and the intersectionality of women of colour; the challenges faced by disabled individuals; disabilities ‘seen and ‘unseen’ within communities, prevents students to fully participate in community events and feel safe and equal in society. (Chay Brown 2023)
The subtleties of nonverbal communication and the difficulties it can pose for some individuals students must be recognized and systems put in place to support them. It underscores the need for greater understanding and accommodation of different communication styles within the community. To help this, there must be an emphasis on budgeting for accessibility. And to have good insights in making things accessible for those people with disability needs. As it will benefit them and everyone else. It is an important argument. To emphasize, priorities accessibility in all aspects of community planning and development.
The main outcome of this blog on disability, gender, intersectionality for me is that we must work towards building ‘visibility and inclusion for all’. And to have the belief in ‘Inclusion first approach ‘. must be our motto. If we are not working for all members of our community, including disabled trans people, then we are not truly serving the community and society.
https://michaelpgcert202324.myblog.arts.ac.uk/
Below, is evidence of my social justice and critical analyses in how I want to confront the disability issues, biases under the themes of, Race, Colour, Sex against Women and the politics/society structures that are structured, preventing fairness and equality. It is these injustices that I want to confront and find solutions to prevent them impacting on a student’s progression within an educational environment. This under pins the ‘Learning Path’ the ‘Bridge’ analogy that is part of my methodology. As strongly stated in my positionality statement and the journey that I have undertaken through my Pgcert 2024-2025, completing the following units:
23/24 Theories, Policies and Practices
https://moodle.arts.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=75295
23/24 PgCert Academic Practice in Art, Design and Communication TLE CPD
https://moodle.arts.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=76478
23/24 Inclusive Practices
https://moodle.arts.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=75296
24/25 Action Research Project
https://moodle.arts.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=84289
Just like my Action Research Blog 2, again I will show you all my ‘working outs’, how I am thinking, and I will be highlighting elements within reading materials that interests me or has immense importance and influence on my research and how I am thinking.
The tool that I am using to document this is the REMARKABLE 2 which is an electronic note pad I will copy and paste within my blogs to show you my immediate reaction to articles; to reveal my ‘unseen interests within the articles’ for you to note and read. Again, I will give comments on articles, and summary at the end.
Also I have researched on an ethical approach to research that is aware of possible discrimination that may be encountered during my research:
Ethical Considerations in Art-Based Research:
- Transparency and Intentionality:
- Objective and Values: Clearly state the research objectives, influenced by the researcher’s and community’s values, attitudes, and political views.
- Researcher’s Role: Explain the researcher’s relationship to the topic and their personal intentions.
- Voluntary Participation:
- Ensure that participation is voluntary throughout the process, allowing participants to withdraw at any time.
- Informed Consent:
- Purpose and Publication: Clearly indicate the purpose of the research and how the findings will be published.
- Identifiability: Specify whether participants will be identifiable or anonymous.
- Consent for Minors: Obtain consent from guardians for participants under 18 and from relevant authorities if conducted in schools.
- Documentation Consent: Obtain consent for photographing and documenting the research, especially if individuals are identifiable.
- Confidentiality and Privacy:
- Protect the privacy of participants and handle sensitive information responsibly.
- Store consent forms and other sensitive documents securely.
- Ethical Documentation:
- Ensure that documentation, such as photographs and videos, is used ethically and with proper consent.
- Limit identifiable documentation of minors unless explicit consent is given.
- Reporting and Transparency:
- Reference all sources appropriately and disclose any challenges or errors in the research process.
- Share the research report with co-researchers and key participants for review and confirmation
The Rise of Citational Justice by Diana Kwon
“The Rise of Citational Justice” by Diana Kwon, published in Nature on March 24, 2022, tackles the concept of citational justice, which aims to address the disproportionate, prejudicial, unfairness-against groups of people and individuals in academic citation, recognising embedded intellectual work that references work for the purpose of acknowledging the relevance of the works of others.
The article highlights how certain groups, such as women and researchers from underrepresented regions, are often cited less frequently than their peers. This under-citation can impact their career progression and the visibility of their work.
I have used this article as it gives guidance in how to create inclusivity and generate initiatives to encourage researchers to be mindful of whose work they are citing and to strive for inclusivity in their references. Quote from article; “We’re talking about acknowledgement. We’re talking about engagement. We’re talking about recognition.” Kwon, D. (2022)
We need review how we acknowledge minority academic work that is not referenced. We must encourage academics to change their citation practices and supporters of change, emphasis that it goes beyond just adding diversity to reference lists; it involves acknowledgment, engagement, and recognition of ideas. It is not enough to acknowledge these disparities and to try to increase recognition of the citational work being referenced; it requires a comprehensive approach. Making sure there is appropriate resources in place, equity in funding and hiring staff/diversity the fair share of awards. Elevating underrepresented scholars benefits not only those individuals but also the wider population, as diverse representation leads to broader benefits for all.
Truth -telling and Intellectual Activism By Patricia Hill Collins (2013)
‘speaking truth to power’
On Intellectual Activism by Patricia Hill Collins
This article inspired made me to reflect in how universities serve student learning, and how I navigate an educational environment where conflict can occur due to the political/education structures placed on academics, teachers, technicians with a focus on intellectual activism. To be “speaking truth to power.” We as teachers may have to challenge the educational systems that we work in with a voice that questions how we deploy our teaching methods towards our students. (Collins, P.H. (2013) empowers us to tell the truth-which can reveal multiple of truths that shows us how we can serve our students better.
Her written work ‘Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness and the Politics of Empowerment’ aimed to engage with an academic audience of African American (academic and non-academic) women. She explains the how she navigates and balances the disruption her article has coursed with the aim of the article to be a useful and recognizable to African American women.
This approach in her article I have used in my research feedback. I wanted ‘critical feedback’ from practitioners, teachers, technicians etc. this data I have used to so that I get an accurate assessment of my research work completed so far and my work critiqued by my fellow colleagues, to focus on elements in my work that needs review. I want to be able to voice student issues concerning barriers to student learning and this article gives an approach in how to voice concerns where there are educational structures in place that hinders student progression and inclusivity.
SUMMARY:
Out of the reading material listed above, I have highlighted a crucial aspect of my research that feeds into my Action Research project on ‘unseen disabilities’: the importance of ethical considerations throughout the entire process. Ethical issues indeed extend beyond data gathering and participant risk, encompassing every phase from conception to dissemination. Historical examples like the Tuskegee syphilis experiments and Milgram’s obedience studies underscore the potential for harm when ethics are neglected.
Ethical decision-making is essential and can foster creativity, even in areas like research ethics governance. This connection between ethics and creativity is often overlooked.
The Ethics of Discrimination
https://philosophynow.org/issues/135/The_Ethics_of_Discrimination
Feminism
Feminist research has evolved significantly over the decades, focusing on various social issues through the lens of gender. Here’s a brief overview:
1970s: Second-Wave Feminism
- UK Researchers: Liz Stanley, Sue Wise, and Ann Oakley studied topics like family, housework, motherhood, and lesbian experiences of homophobia.
- US Researcher: Laurel Richardson explored the impact of gender on everyday customs, facing challenges in getting her work accepted due to its perceived stridency.
Key Concepts
- Challenging Objectivity: Feminist researchers argued that the identity and context of both researchers and participants are central to the research process, opposing traditional principles of objectivity and neutrality.
1990s: Third-Wave Feminism
- Intersectionality: Researchers began to recognize that gender interacts with other forms of inequality, such as ethnicity, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. This approach acknowledges the complexity of identity and its social and geographical contexts.
Research Methods
- Qualitative Methods: Initially favoured by second-wave feminists for their ability to capture the nuanced experiences of women.
- Mixed-Methods: Researchers, particularly in the US, have embraced quantitative and mixed-method approaches to address certain research questions effectively.
Case Study: Domestic Violence Research
- Marianne Hester and Colleagues: Conducted a mixed-method investigation into domestic violence, including focus groups, interviews, and a questionnaire. Their feminist approach ensured sensitivity to gender and power dynamics in both heterosexual and same-sex relationships.
This summary highlights the evolution and diversity of feminist research methodologies and their focus on understanding complex social issues through a gendered lens.
Kara. H 2015. Creative Research Methods in the Social Sciences:n A Practical Guide, Policy Press, Bristol. Available from. ProQuest Ebook Central. {18 September 2023}. Created From ual on 2023-09-18 13:44:06
REFERENCES:
Kwon, D. (2022) ‘The rise of citational justice’, Nature, 603, 24 March, pp. 24-26.
Collins, P.H. (2013) Truth-telling and Intellectual Activism. Philadelphia, Pa.: Temple University Press
Kara, H. (2015) Creative Research Methods in the Social Sciences: A Practical Guide. Bristol: Policy Press.