The fetish of the lens: persistent sexist and ableist metaphor in education research
The fetish of the lens: persistent sexist and ableist metaphor in education research
The scientific metaphor of the lens remains widely used in qualitative education research, despite critiques of positivism. Informed by two recently completed empirical doctoral studies relying on Metaphors We Live By, we propose that the attachment to the lens is a fetish. We ar gue that this fetish, evident even in purportedly feminist, post posit ivist and inclusive education research, emerges from fascination with masculinist and ableist power predicated on the othering of the femini ne, and those with disabilities. Recourse to the language of power pro ves irresistible, if dangerous, for academics. We call for caution in the casual use of the lens and for new linguistic research repertoires that produce reality differently.
821-831
McKnight, Lucinda
57dda017-f3ac-4118-bf66-43b88d74c06d
Whitburn, Ben
ae7b4b48-a2c6-4c2b-8b95-29f8aa9af1ba
McKnight, Lucinda
57dda017-f3ac-4118-bf66-43b88d74c06d
Whitburn, Ben
ae7b4b48-a2c6-4c2b-8b95-29f8aa9af1ba
McKnight, Lucinda and Whitburn, Ben
(2017)
The fetish of the lens: persistent sexist and ableist metaphor in education research.
International journal of qualitative studies in education, 30 (9), .
(doi:10.1080/09518398.2017.1286407).
Abstract
The scientific metaphor of the lens remains widely used in qualitative education research, despite critiques of positivism. Informed by two recently completed empirical doctoral studies relying on Metaphors We Live By, we propose that the attachment to the lens is a fetish. We ar gue that this fetish, evident even in purportedly feminist, post posit ivist and inclusive education research, emerges from fascination with masculinist and ableist power predicated on the othering of the femini ne, and those with disabilities. Recourse to the language of power pro ves irresistible, if dangerous, for academics. We call for caution in the casual use of the lens and for new linguistic research repertoires that produce reality differently.
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Accepted/In Press date: 19 January 2017
e-pub ahead of print date: 7 February 2017
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Local EPrints ID: 471002
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/471002
ISSN: 0951-8398
PURE UUID: 0bde5b7c-13c6-4d28-988c-e4a8c18b3d46
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Date deposited: 24 Oct 2022 16:38
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 04:13
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Author:
Lucinda McKnight
Author:
Ben Whitburn
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