Muddying the Waters- Alexia Bacon

            In this weeks reading Mudding the Waters: Coauthoring Feminism Across Scholarship Nagar discusses her methodology that attempts to bridge together two worlds.  She writes of what the process looks like when trying to conduct scholar activism within research.  What Nagar describes as the methodology being used is radical vulnerability.  This notion is quite different then other methodologies that have been talked about in class because it relies heavily on practically almost complete transparency, and seems to also weigh on personal responsibilities.  Through this idea of radical vulnerability people and researchers are supposed to engage in both conflict and cohesiveness when talking and thinking about both politics and position. 

            When thinking about this reading specifically I can carry over some of what Nagar talks about it into my own work with young people.  Throughout your practice of youth development it is important that you are focused and understand why you are doing what you are doing.  It is also important when going into diverse groups of young people that you are holding yourself and others accountable to confront and discuss various issues of positionality that occur throughout your practice.  Another slightly unrelated issue that I thought of while reading this chapter is the conversations I have had with young people about the more “scholarly” political movements forget about issues that they face.  Perhaps some use of the radical vulnerability methodology could eliminate some of this hostility around these causes. 

           

Discussion Question

Throughout the reading a large focus is put on transparency, is it possible to be completely transparent and also create a safe space at the same time?