Positioning

Questions: Which of my "fixed positions" will affect what I see in my field site? What "subjective positions" do I carry into my field site?

The first fixed position that arises as potentially ostracizing is my gender: female. Generally (and seemingly exclusively in the Owen Bell skate park), most skaters and bikers are male. My age is the same as many who hang out there so I do not feel too young or too old. But I suppose my biggest concern relates to my inherent, "subjective," shyness, and since being female already puts me down a notch that much more far away from being an insider, I know it will take a few visits to overcome "feeling awkward." I don't feel as if my gender, nationality, age, etc will affect what I see but it will most likely affect if I see it, if that makes sense. I think I just have to get over myself and take the plunge, and focus my "research lens" closer than I think I can so I can gather all the data I need.

My unfamiliarity with skateboarding, which will be obvious as I have never frequented the skate park before, automatically positions me far away. Even if I don't know any of the skaters there, I know they know that I don't skate and they know I know that they know (hahaha). Even on the internet I see that all the skater "groups" interact in some way, even if impersonally. Though I am acquainted with several of the boys that do go there I wouldn't venture to call us friends so I still feel a bit uncomfortable approaching them in person. I know for a fact that I have many things in common with many of the skaters (music, movies, style, etc) but I'm not sure how to bridge the pre-existing gap.