{"title":"The researcher’s erotic subjectivities: epistemological and ethical challenges","authors":"Katrien De Graeve, Valerie De Craene","doi":"10.5565/REV/DAG.578","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"This paper aims to deepen the conversation about the potential relevance and importance of including reflection on the desire and sexuality of the researcher in research outputs. We critically scrutinise the exceptionalisation of sexual(ised) interactions in research: why is sexual(ised) contact between researchers and participants considered unethical or problematic, and what are the consequences of the avoidance of—and/or the (self-)censorship with regard to discussing—intimacy in the field? This discussion leads us to argue for an alternative ethical approach than that prescribed by institutional ethical protocols. The ethical approach that we envision is based on the premise that knowledge production never occurs apart from our bodies and that a research relationship is not fundamentally different from any other human relationship. What we propose is a relational research ethics that creates space for discussing openly and in dialogue with others the (potential) consequences of our actions as researchers/human beings within relationships of shifting power asymmetry.","PeriodicalId":44827,"journal":{"name":"Documents d Analisi Geografica","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7000,"publicationDate":"2019-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"4","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Documents d Analisi Geografica","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.5565/REV/DAG.578","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"GEOGRAPHY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 4
Abstract
This paper aims to deepen the conversation about the potential relevance and importance of including reflection on the desire and sexuality of the researcher in research outputs. We critically scrutinise the exceptionalisation of sexual(ised) interactions in research: why is sexual(ised) contact between researchers and participants considered unethical or problematic, and what are the consequences of the avoidance of—and/or the (self-)censorship with regard to discussing—intimacy in the field? This discussion leads us to argue for an alternative ethical approach than that prescribed by institutional ethical protocols. The ethical approach that we envision is based on the premise that knowledge production never occurs apart from our bodies and that a research relationship is not fundamentally different from any other human relationship. What we propose is a relational research ethics that creates space for discussing openly and in dialogue with others the (potential) consequences of our actions as researchers/human beings within relationships of shifting power asymmetry.
期刊介绍:
Documents d’Anàlisi Geogràfica is an open-access academic journal aimed at scholars and professionals who have an interest on the interactions between nature, society, politics, economy and culture that take place in space at different scales, and to which geography provides analysis or responses. Edited jointly by the Department of Geography of the Universitat Autònoma of Barcelona and the Department of Geography of the Universitat de Girona, Documents d’Anàlisi Geogràfica is published quarterly, in February, June and October.