Boundaries, Gatekeeping, and Oppression Within Science Education Research

Abstract

I employ an arts-based method to express my concerns and frustrations about the field of science education research. I draw primarily upon experiences I had as a graduate student, when the stifling pressure to conform nearly ended my academic career before it began. Through poetry, I hope to raise questions, surface issues, and highlight voices. In so doing, I also invite others in to create space for their own concerns, tensions, and wonderings about the field. Throughout, I raise questions about how we engage in social justice work in light of the gatekeeping represented in the poem.