Latino Studies

, Volume 14, Issue 4, pp 533–544 | Cite as

Miseducating Latina researchers: Challenges and consequences in the field

  • Isabel Martinez
Reflexiones Pedagógicas
First Online:
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Abstract

This article examines how racism in the academy, by virtue of omission of discussions of race and its intercentricity with other forms of subordination, has the potential to endanger Latina researchers conducting fieldwork in familiar and unfamiliar settings. Failure to consider the intersections of race, gender, immigration and other axes of subordination resulted in three incidents of near-violence and intimidation for one Chicana researcher that, while frightening, are instructive for future and current researchers. Arguing that traditional qualitative methods classrooms and texts overlook the particular challenges and risks that Latina and other female researchers of color may face in the field, this article encourages the inclusion of teaching of critical race theory and critical race methodologies when training novice and senior researchers.

Keywords

qualitative methods critical race theory intersectionality binational fieldwork gender reflexivity 
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Notes

Acknowledgement

Many thanks to the external reviewers and Angel D. Nieves for their careful reading and thoughtful comments as well as to the Spencer Foundation for their generous financial support. Earlier drafts of this article also benefited from feedback from Patricia Sánchez, Carol Brochín, Patricia Trujillo and the University of Texas at San Antonio College of Education students. Lastly, many thanks to Nathaly Ramirez for her invaluable assistance.

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Copyright information

© Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2016

Authors and Affiliations

  • Isabel Martinez
    • 1
  1. 1.John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNYNew YorkUSA

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