Standing in the middle: Insider/outsider positionality while conducting qualitative research with opposing military veteran political groups

This case study describes the process and challenges of conducting qualitative research on two opposing military veteran political groups: Iraq Veterans Against the War and Vets for Freedom. The discussion is based on a dissertation project that compelled me to reflect on my simultaneous "insider" status as a military veteran and "outsider" status as a non-member of both veteran political groups. I describe negotiating my positionality throughout the research cycle, as I also shifted from trying to be "objective" to embracing the fluidity of my own identity and political views.