The biggest challenge of being a researcher is to be impartial during the data collection process. However, for the researcher, conducting any area of research will come with some personal sentiment or perception regarding that topic. Oftentimes the researcher has to sit and contemplate how they will approach the subject despite their personal bias or opinions.
I felt a surge of overwhelming feelings and thoughts when I embarked on learning more about female genital cutting (FGC) in Pakistan. A few questions that ran through my mind were:
Is it ok for me to pursue this research as an outsider to the community who has not experienced FGC?
I wondered if it was an intrusive decision to choose FGC as my research topic because I am not part of the community that practices it. My uncertainity and discomfort felt heavy, but also important to address before I started the data collection process. Reading and learning about FGC from books, journals, and audio-visual sources seemed like the easy part. However, when I got closer to the data collection process which involved surveying and interviewing women who underwent FGC, I felt the need to reflect upon these questions, because I wanted to ensure I was not crossing any boundaries that could cause them harm.
When I realized that there is a dearth of data on FGC in Pakistan, I determined that by collecting more data, I could help build a more thorough understanding of the practice and its contextual continuation. In turn, what I found could help explain the way that communities function and whether culture or religion play a role in practices like FGC. Once it was clear as to why I was pursuing this research, I felt some relief.
How can I make my paritcipants feel safe and comfortable while they share their thoughts and experiences with me?
With qualitative methodologies, and especially interview formats, the interviewer must be mindful of ethical guidelines. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently launched its first ethical guidance on how to conduct research on FGC, titled Ethical considerations in research on female genital mutilation, for this purpose. It is imperative that researchers stick to these guidelines to avoid any conflict or trauma for the participants. One of the main principles of the WHO’s ethical considerations is respect for persons, which states that consent and informed understanding of the research are important elements to the ethical conduct of research. It is necessary that the researcher informs the participant about the research and only continues data collection upon their willingness. Once the researcher has familiarized themselves with the ethical guidelines and questions, they must approach participants in a non-imposing and thoughtful manner. The researcher’s demeanour must reflect that the participant has absolute free will to interject or walk away from the interview; the participant must know that they have the option to discontinue the interview without the fear of any consequences. Comfort, willingness, and the well-being of a participant should be of the utmost importance to the researcher.
How can I deal with panic associated with the responsibility to have zero margin of error?
Every researcher aims to produce reliable and error-free research. It is great to pursue research with a spirit of wanting to do your best, however researchers should also practice compassion and kindness towards themselves. It is easy to get carried away with the aim for perfection, and I think it is better to replace that feeling with self-kindness and appreciation for whatever you may have achieved within a day.
But how does one deal with the panic of these responsibilities? I think it is helpful to reach out to other researchers and discuss your concerns, fears, and anxieties. By speaking to other research students and mentors, I realized that it is quite normal to feel this fear and panic. However, managing it in a consistent and healthy way is key to producing good research and retaining one’s sanity. This is why I made it a point to spend more time with my dogs and family to relieve stress levels. I also pursued hobbies that helped take my mind off research for a while. These small changes in my lifestyle helped me approach my research in a responsible, mindful, and revived manner. Afterall, balance is everything.
About Huda Syyed:
Huda Syyed is currently a Research Student at Charles Darwin University. Her research topic focuses on female genital cutting and explores an understanding of the practice and its lack of visibility in Pakistan. In the past, she acquired a Master’s degree in International Relations from Queen Mary University (London) and worked in the non-profit sector on UN Women projects that dealt with gender-based violence. She has been a research assistant and writer for a few projects and was also visiting faculty at Bahria University, where she taught ‘International Organizations’ at undergraduate level. She writes news and opinion pieces on topics related to gender and society for local and digital newspapers.
Learn more about Huda’s research here.