1.2. Insider and Outsider Perspectives

Question 1

What is an insider?

Answer 1

Perspective of someone who knows a place well and is familiar with not only its topography but its daily rhythms and events

Question 2

What is an outsider?

Answer 2

The perspective of someone who doesn’t know a place well or someone who is marginalised in a community (e.g. homeless, minority ethnic groups)

Question 3

Insider place of birth

Answer 3

born in ‘x’ or parents were born there

Question 4

Outsider place of birth

Answer 4

not born in ‘x’, they were immigrants and/or parents/grandparents were

Question 5

Insider status

Answer 5

• permanent resident
• holds a passport of country ‘x’
• can work vote, claim benefits like free housing and healthcare

Question 6

Outsider status

Answer 6

• temporary visitor
• holds a foreign passport and/or limited visa to stay in ‘x’
• may not be able to work, vote, claim benefits
• may be travelling for business/ in search of work/ pleasure/ safety

Question 7

Insider language capacity

Answer 7

fluent in the local language

Question 8

Outsider language capacity

Answer 8

• not fluent
• doesn’t understand local idioms

Question 9

Insider social interactions/ behaviour/ understanding

Answer 9

• understands unspoken rules of society ‘x’
• conforms to local norms

Question 10

Outsider social interactions/ behaviour/ understanding

Answer 10

frequently makes faux paus or misunderstands social interactions

Question 11

Insider state of mind

Answer 11

safe, secure, happy, feels at home

Question 12

Outsider state of mind

Answer 12

homesick, alienated, in exile, feels ‘out of place’