ABSTRACT
It is a challenge, even a hazardous one, for a white, male academic to write reflexively
about the dangers of research into questions of racism and ethnicity. However, not to
confront such questions is arguably more, not less perilous. Being a white researcher in
this field has been the norm for too long and taking the powers and privileges of
‘whiteness’ for granted has only served to secure its legitimacy. The political dangers of
not addressing such questions thus outweigh the emotional costs of problematizing
and deconstructing one’s own research practice.
