Sensitivities: emotion-work and resulting personal effects in researching Black lesbians

J Lesbian Stud. 2011;15(1):31-40. doi: 10.1080/10894160.2010.508406.

Abstract

The issues of self-disclosure, empathy, sharing the lives of others, developing rapport, and emotional memories are presented in relationship to the conduct of qualitative research interviews with Black lesbian students attending a historically Black university within a southern U.S. regional context. The challenge of doing such sensitive research is discussed from my perspective of also being a Black lesbian researcher, and the questions that this raised for me. Specific examples from the interview experiences are provided of self-disclosure, empathy, and rapport with the student participants. Conclusions suggest the need for building a community of social support for female scholars of African descent who study and serve Black lesbian populations.

MeSH terms

  • Black or African American / psychology*
  • Empathy
  • Female
  • Homosexuality, Female / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Researcher-Subject Relations / psychology*
  • Self Disclosure
  • Social Support