Insider and Outsider
The purpose
of research determines
the epistemology of researchers
in the way to locate their perspective as insider or outsider. Reducing bias of research subject will be difficult in order to gain
the
‘objectivity’. In other hand, taking most inside perspective will affect the research focus in some extent.
However, the more important consideration than
problematic role of researcher which
want to be insider and outsider is about something
what called ‘the condition of possibility’
(in Foucult’s term), such as ‘why and for what’ the research. This condition will lead the question about “insider and
outsider” in realizing the possebility how reasercher can answer research’s
problem.
The relation between “insider and outsider” is contested based
researcher’s methodology. Theology and religious studies are the arena of how the
relations influence even more need each other, hopefully, improving the quality
of them. Thus, the framework to look at the ‘subject research’ is always determined by researcher to get their goal.
Even, the researcher
will construct scholar’s identity or define ‘subject research’.
Many researchers succed
using various approach (insider or outsider)
based on their opportunity or even their weakness to do it. Kim Knott told four
characters of research in the way they locate their self in scholar extent.
However, each scholar has aims and hypothesis before doing research. Fatimah
Mernissi, as theologian used her capability to access the materials and
tradition (her experience and observation) for criticizing ‘subject’ through insider
opportunity. Nevertheless, she can not deny that her idea was influenced by
Western Idea, critically as the insider. In other cases in the time of colonization, most of academic studies including ‘religion
antropology’ has certain mission, not only for exemining the knowledge of certain area and its people, but also for
‘controlling’ people identity as colonized people.
This knowledge
of identity influence the relation of inside and outside
perspective even after colonization.
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