BLAKE HAWKINS MLIS (CANDIDATE) UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA Attempting To Critically Engage: Researching GBTQ Youth Information-Seeking-Behaviors

Outline Purpose of the presentation Positionality Context My Thesis Work Reflections

Purpose of the Presentation Three reasons for this presentation 1) Discuss my experiences dealing with the transition from a research to professional program 2) Provide insight about how one may resolve potential issues 3) Interdisciplinary work might be one of the solutions?

Purpose we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns -- the ones we don't know we don't know Donald Rumsfeld

Positionality Background I am an interdisciplinary researcher and professional Geography, health science, First Nations Studies, and gender studies  Reflexivity, critical frameworks, settler/post colonial and Marxist perspectives, and critical geography

Positionality I am still undecided in defining what is an MLIS program…

Context Differing perspectives on Master’s in Library and Information Studies  Challenge with branding the program  Librarians need to be more critical (Chatman, Venoit, and others who work has discussed these issues)  Challenge with academic engagement and being employable in the neoliberalized states of Canada and United States

My Thesis Work Working with Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Queer/Questioning Youth Research questions: 1) What kinds of materials related to social determinants of health are being searched, shared, and used by GBTQ youth in Prince George, BC?

Research Questions 2) How does geography and mobility impact their ability to find information? 3) What, if any, social costs are faced by GBTQ youth looking, sharing, and using this information in Prince George, BC?

Purpose of my work (Participants) Little research referring to GBTQ youth in general Most work concerning this population involves Grindr

Purpose of my work (for participants) Little to help this group in the Prince George region Chance to provide a voice to their challenges and stories

Purpose of my work (for me) Currently there is little research Chance to learn skills for professional context, however, remaining engaged in academic discourse Build past skills, and further my understanding of information studies scholarly debates

How will I complete this work? Two stages to this project: 1) This fall I will provide cameras for photographing the process of looking and using information. Additionally, I will have group-based counter mapping to demonstrate an ‘on the ground’ perspective about limitations to knowledge and its usage 2) Group interviews…providing a safe space for participants to share their opinions

Potential Outcomes Critiquing current policies concerning men’s health in Northern British Columbia/Prince George Provide a narrative concerning the information seeking behaviors and usage of information amongst GBTQ youth What are the social cost? Resource community and hypermasculine

My Concerns With This Work Do GBTQ youth really care about this stuff? How will a historically conservative profession appreciate this work? Will this work hinder my career ambitions? Is there even a need to complete a thesis?

My thoughts on these concerns… It is important to find a group which supports what you do (SARAVYC at UBC) Use your cohort members as a support network There are people outside of the ISchool who may research similar issues It is most important to be true to yourself

Final Remarks These are my opinions…I may be coming from a place of privilege (i.e., White male and able bodied) I think that the profession has grown It takes time Many of us have undergraduate degrees in defined disciplines…now it is your chance to be a visionary!

THANK YOU Questions, Concerns, or Anything Else?  Contact me at: or tweet