Researching homosexuality in Ghana and its implication on the researcher: reflections from the field. Issue 1 (2nd January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Agyeman, Nana Kwame Kyeretwie
• Is Part Of: African identities. Volume 21:Issue 1(2023)
• Page Start: 177
• Page End: 186
• Publication Date: 2023-01-02
• Subjects: Homosexuality -- Ghana -- methodology -- Africa -- gay; National characteristics, African -- Periodicals; Africans -- Periodicals; African diaspora -- Periodicals; Africa -- Civilization -- Periodicals; 305.896
• DOI: 10.1080/14725843.2021.1880369
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1472-5843

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This paper discusses methodological reflections based on an empirical research project on gay rights advocacies in Ghana. It engages the possibility of emotional harm on researchers in the fieldwork that may not be inherently captured by universities' ethical procedures. In the event that ethical procedures consider harm to the researcher, the word 'harm' is often defined within the parameters of physical injury and not emotional ones. This paper concludes that researchers dealing with 'vulnerable' participants should be better equipped in terms of building emotional fortitude. This could be attained by making emotionality a part of research ethical processes. This would help deal with the attendant emotional rollercoaster researchers experience on the field. This is important because being conscious of emotionality shapes the way researchers perceive and relate to the underlying emotions that accompany the narrations of research participants in the quest to be reflexive.