From "Mesearch" to "Wesearch": Perceptions of Researchers Studying Their Own Intersectional Marginalization.

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Sociology
• Intersectionality Studies

Background:

• Intersectional marginalization research is often led by scholars with relevant lived experiences.
• Perceptions of these researchers can influence the impact and reception of their work.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine how the perceived identity of researchers influences the evaluation of studies on Black women's marginalization.
• To investigate differential perceptions between the general US population and Black women.

Main Methods:

• Four experiments were conducted with a demographically representative US sample (N=385) and subsequent experiments with Black American women (N=243, 139, 182).
• Participants evaluated research trustworthiness and merit based on the researcher's identity (Black woman, Black man, White woman, White man).

Main Results:

• The general US sample perceived research on Black women's marginalization as equally trustworthy regardless of the researcher's race or gender.
• This general perception was attributed to ambivalent views of Black women researchers (positive expertise, negative vested interest).
• Black women participants, however, rated research more favorably when conducted by a Black woman, valuing her standing, expertise, and community commitment.

Conclusions:

• Public perception of intersectional research may not fully account for the nuances of lived experience.
• Black women's evaluations highlight the importance of shared identity and community connection in assessing research on their experiences.
• Future research should consider the perspectives of marginalized groups when evaluating studies addressing their specific concerns.