Me-Search is Research: My Socialization as an Academic

My Blackness, woman-ness, and educated status all converge to create a sometimes unique perspective on the world that in some instances, and at some institutions, is not valued or welcomed… . One of my colleagues calls research on populations like yourself “navel gazing.” Why is this? I’m not sure because I feel that all research comes from our lived experiences. Our lives inform our questions, our methods, our populations of study, as well as colors our interpretation. There is no such thing as objective research. As long as humans are involved at any stage, there is no such thing as objectivity. I think if we go deep enough we will find a connection to one’s self in all research.