The Value of Research

Dr Thomsen’s seminar showed me that research, regardless of its specificity, does not exist in a vacuum. Initially, his research on the sexual identity of Korean men living in Seattle seemed abstract to me, in grounding his study in his lived experiences and those of his subjects, existing knowledge and societal themes the story is unique but also relatable. 

The value of this work is in giving men a voice to express their sexuality when their society does not allow them to do so. The creation of “Narratives of Convenience” (NOC) by these men to hide their gay sexual identity show this.[1] Without this study, these men would not have a platform to tell their story. Additionally, the creation of NOC in managing social constructs is a common theme for minority cultures which also have to suppress their identities to fit in. Giving a voice to the vulnerable and voiceless is always valuable. 

Another unique aspect of this research is the different cultural frameworks at play. The study shows the value of researching a particular group as a non-western cultural outsider. The need for NOC shows that this topic is highly sensitive for the participants and one which the critical lens of a western scholar may not be best placed, as seen in the writings of Edward Said’s Orientalism. The researcher is well-placed, however, to tackle minority issues; being raised in Samoan culture with a more open itulagi or worldview to other minority cultures and peoples. Samoa’s cultural practice of fa’afafines shows this, a person who is born male but raised as a woman, emphasising a more open culture. By being able to connect with these vulnerable men as a cultural outsider, the researcher shows there is value in analysing from that position.

  [1] Thomsen, “Coming-Out in the Intersections: Examining Relationality in How Korean Gay Men in Seattle Navigate Church, Culture and Family through a Pacific Lens,” 14.

About The Author

I am a student studying law and arts, majoring in politics and Chinese. The broadness my degree offers has allowed me flexibility to explore my interests in international relations, climate change and Māori issues. My interest in international relations stems from my time in China, where I lived, worked and travelled and saw China's growing presence in the world. I am interested in how New Zealander's perceive this influence and how this may affect diplomatic relations and our race relations in New Zealand. Climate change is another divisive issue facing our country. The inability of states to address this issue and the knowledge gap surrounding it are of particular interest to me. I would like to research the reasons behind this knowledge gap, and the politicisation of climate change information away from facts creating social divisions and a lack of political accountability. In Te Ao Māori, I am interested in the Crown's commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and precisely how the mass imprisonment of Māori fails in this. In researching this area, I am interested in asking how we got here and how can we use indigenous solutions to solve these problems and help to fulfil the Crown's commitments. Across my areas of interests, there is a common motivation to analyse the relationships between individuals, states and institutions. It is the study of these interactions that I believe can help to solve these problems for society, and this is why I want to explore this further.

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