Positionality refers to the social and political context that creates ones identity in terms of race, class, gender, sexuality, ability status, and other factors. It is the understanding that personal values, views, and location in time and space influence how one understands the world. Positionality is a critical understanding of the role a scholars background and current position in the world plays in the production of academic knowledge, particularly in qualitative research in the social sciences.
Positionality is important because it shapes how we understand and engage with the world, including our knowledge, perspectives, and teaching practices. Acknowledging positionality requires researchers to identify their own degrees of privilege through factors such as race, class, educational attainment, income, ability, gender, and citizenship, among others, for the purpose of analyzing and acting from ones social position in an unjust world.
In the context of teaching, discussing positionality with students can be a great way to model reflexivity, especially as it relates to ones teaching philosophy, research, and scholarship. Reflecting on ones positionality as an instructor can be a powerful strategy for student success, especially if one thinks about how their lived experiences shape what they do in the classroom and how those actions may or may not be supporting the success of students in their class who often have very different lived experiences.
Overall, positionality is an important concept that recognizes the influence of social and political context on ones identity and understanding of the world. It is a critical tool for researchers, educators, and individuals to reflect on their own biases and privileges and to work towards a more just and equitable society.
