Multiplex Methodologies: Researching Young People’s Well-Being at the Intersections of Class, Sexuality, Gender and Age

Abstract

As Ally’s quote above illustrates, social interaction pivots on the processes of defining and placing ourselves and others into discrete groups. In this chapter, I attempt to think through the methodological dilemmas and complexities of researching the intersecting categories of social class, sexuality, gender and age in a study investigating young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)1 people and mental health. The principal question of the chapter is: How can we study intersectionality? Drawing on a study called the Online Pilot Project, which utilised a virtual methodology, I consider possible methodologies and ask which are useful for which purposes. The intention of the research was to unmask how being young, with a marginalised sexual and gender identity/subjectivity, and located at various class positions, can impact on mental health and well-being. Through an intersectional, rather than additive, perspective I aim to uncover the multiple processes, positionings and power relations that may constitute well-being.