Sharing the Stage

In this autoethnographic study, I identify and critique the ethical dimensions of the research relationship from a narrative inquiry into a transgender student's experience in school music. Josselson notes that while many scholars have discussed conducting ethical research in theoretical terms, actual dilemmas of practice are seldom written about. The "dilemmas of practice" I encountered include the effort to honor Rie's privilege to identify herself and determine how she is represented in the work, her "say" in the construction of her story and the purposes to which it used, and, as critical storytelling is not a neutral endeavor, the textual choreography necessary to balance my responsibility as researcher to observe and critique the implications of Rie's story with her vulnerability in sharing intimate details of her personal journey. By contemplating and detailing the specific ethical dilemmas associated with researching and writing Rie's story, I illuminate the connections of theory to practice and provide grist for continuing the dialogue on conducting responsible narrative inquiry in the field of music education.