A Lifelong Journey: Positionality in Self-Knowledge, Relationships, and Evaluation

I am a white, highly educated millennial woman and am honored to share my revelations about positionality following my experience learning about and accepting my own autistic profile. Positionality statements have grown more prominent recently as we have collectively acknowledged the impact of privilege and perspective in most, if not all, professions. To write a positionality statement, we must critically self-reflect and recognize where we stand in relation to each other, to institutions, and to society at large. Positionality statements should be considered living documents because our identities grow and change as our lives continue. In my early 30s, my positionality has changed significantly since age 26, forcing me to unpack the principles that underlie my life and, therefore, my scholarly practice. This note outlines an in-depth example of what positionality practice could entail and offers considerations for evaluators looking to establish or deepen their own reflective practice.