van den Eynde, Julie ORCID: 0000-0001-6607-3462 and Veno, Arthur (2007) Depicting outlaw motorcycle club women using anchored and unanchored research methodologies. Australian Community Psychologist, 19 (1). pp. 96-111. ISSN 1320-7741

Abstract

Entry of researchers into a subculture can be fraught with personal and methodological problems resulting in researcher ill health, poor data and corrupt analysis. Based upon the literature a method was developed to avoid these outcomes. The technique was used during a major community psychology intervention requiring a researcher to become deeply immersed into the subculture of Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs (OMCs). We coined the term Insider-Outsider to describe the technique. The technique allowed a complete re-framing of the role of women involved with OMCs. Previous research of women associated with OMCs is scurrilous as the women are defined only by their sexual and economic values to the OMC members. We came to the conclusion that previous research was one of the last bastions of sexist research. Our findings normalised the role of OMC women as, in our methodology, women were actually interviewed, observed and a replicable methodology was used.

Search Google Scholar

Repository staff login