Kitchen table reflexivity: negotiating positionality through everyday talk
Abstract
In this article, we explore the role of self-reflexivity in the understanding of positionality in human geography to argue that self-reflexivity in and of itself does not offer researchers sufficient opportunities to question and critique their fluid, ever-changing positionalities. Drawing on the work of feminist scholars, critical race scholars, and experiences carrying out qualitative research, we argue that formal and informal conversations with colleagues and mentors affords the opportunity to deeply engage with positionalities. This article draws on concepts of ‘everyday talk’ to encourage researchers to explore their positionalities through kitchen table reflexivity – an exploration of an individual's positionality and its relationship to their research carried out through formal and informal conversations with others. We demonstrate how everyday talk with each other furthered our understandings of our fluid identities in relation to our research participants. Through these conversations, we were able to more critically interrogate our identity and not simply reduce identity to a laundry list of perceived similarities and differences between research participants and us. In conclusion, we encourage all researchers to use everyday talk as one way to complicate their positionalities and to reflect on how this process relates to the broader societal and academic environment within which they carry out their research.
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Positionality is fluid and shaped by both formal and informal interactions during the research process.
“By using the concept of ' kitchen table reflexivity ' as discussed by Kohl and McCutcheon (2015), the article demonstrates how, through talk, positionality is fluid and shaped by both formal and informal interactions during the research process”
From Moving beyond ‘shopping list’ positionality: Using kitchen table reflexivity and in/visible tools to develop reflexive qualitative research (2023) · cites this paper as Kohl and McCutcheon (2015)
The construction of positionality is delicate and continual, with implications for belonging.
“This illustrates the delicate and continual nature of constructing positionality and the implications of this for belonging (Kohl and McCutcheon, 2015; Reyes, 2020; Rose, 2020).”
From Moving beyond ‘shopping list’ positionality: Using kitchen table reflexivity and in/visible tools to develop reflexive qualitative research (2023) · cites this paper as Kohl and McCutcheon, 2015
Kitchen table reflexivity and ethnographic in/visible tools are useful theoretical concepts to draw upon when reflecting on how positionality develops through talk throughout fieldwork encounters.
“Kitchen table reflexivity and ethnographic in/visible tools are useful theoretical concepts to draw upon when reflecting on how positionality develops through talk throughout fieldwork encounters (Kohl and McCutcheon, 2015; Reyes, 2020).”
From Moving beyond ‘shopping list’ positionality: Using kitchen table reflexivity and in/visible tools to develop reflexive qualitative research (2023) · cites this paper as Kohl and McCutcheon, 2015
The loose approach alongside kitchen table reflexivity was conducive to the adaptability and flux in researcher positionality as each family interview differed.
“This loose approach alongside the above ' kitchen table reflexivity ' (Kohl and McCutcheon, 2015) was conducive to the adaptability and flux in researcher positionality as each family interview differed.”
From Moving beyond ‘shopping list’ positionality: Using kitchen table reflexivity and in/visible tools to develop reflexive qualitative research (2023) · cites this paper as Kohl and McCutcheon, 2015
The paper has used the notion of 'kitchen table reflexivity' to bring to the fore how positionality is shaped in talk during qualitative research, developing the work of Kohl and McCutcheon.
“Developing the work of Kohl and McCutcheon (2015), this paper has used the notion of ' kitchen table reflexivity ' to bring to the fore how positionality is shaped in talk during qualitative research.”
From Moving beyond ‘shopping list’ positionality: Using kitchen table reflexivity and in/visible tools to develop reflexive qualitative research (2023) · cites this paper as Kohl and McCutcheon (2015)
Cites
Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness, and the Politics of Empowerment.
Brewer, R. M., & Collins, P. H. (1992) · Contemporary Sociology · doi:10.2307/2074808 · Cited by 19,445 · see citing works
Situating knowledges: positionality, reflexivities and other tactics
Rose, G. (1997) · Progress in Human Geography · doi:10.1191/030913297673302122 · Cited by 2,390 · see citing works
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Folkes, L. (2023) · Qualitative Research · doi:10.1177/14687941221098922 · Cited by 159 · see citing works
“Kitchen table reflexivity and ethnographic in/visible tools are useful theoretical concepts to draw upon when reflecting on how positionality develops through talk throughout fieldwork encounters (Kohl and McCutcheon, 2015; Reyes, 2020).”
BackgroundOf wine and whiteboards: Enacting feminist reflexivity in collaborative research
Linabary, J. R., Corple, D. J., & Cooky, C. (2021) · Qualitative Research · doi:10.1177/1468794120946988 · Cited by 54 · see citing works
- Authors
- Kohl, E., & McCutcheon, P.
- Affiliations
- University of Georgia (US)
- University of Connecticut (US)
- Corresponding author
- Kohl, Ellen
- ORCID
- Kohl, Ellen
- Venue
- Gender, Place & Culture
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2014-09-15
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 747-763
- ISSN
- 0966-369X (ISSN-L)
- 1360-0524
- OpenAlex
- W1986856511
- Cited by
- 213
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 31 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 34 · 2023: 34 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 3
- FWCI
- 20.64
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Gender Place & Culture (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- University of Georgia
- University of Connecticut
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics
- Social Sciences › Cultural Studies › Posthumanist Ethics and Activism
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Feminist Epistemology and Gender Studies
- Keywords
- researcher positionality, self-reflexivity, everyday conversation, feminist research, researcher identity, researcher reflexivity, researcher-participant relationship
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