Using feminist ‘reflexive practice’ to explore stress and well-being of local researchers in South Sudan

ABSTRACT

This article discusses using feminist methods of reflexive practice to support and learn about the well-being of researchers working on gender-based violence research in South Sudan. In particular, we focus on the experiences of South Sudanese researchers undertaking this research in their own country. We share key findings and offer personal reflections on and suggestions for improving fieldwork. As feminists ourselves we placed a high value on sharing personal reflections on emotional challenges that the research team faced. However, our South Sudanese colleagues did not find these approaches very useful, preferring to discuss technical challenges, and placed emphasis on the importance of professionalism. This experience suggests the need for more culturally diverse feminist research tools, and for better recognition of the crucial role played by national researchers in international research projects. We end with recommendations.

Cet article traite de l’utilisation de méthodes féministes de pratique réflexive pour soutenir et en apprendre plus sur le bien-être des chercheurs travaillant dans le domaine de la violence sexiste au Soudan du Sud. Nous nous concentrons en particulier sur les expériences des chercheurs sud-soudanais qui entreprennent ces recherches dans leur propre pays. Nous présentons les constats clés et proposons des réflexions personnelles sur la manière d’améliorer les travaux de terrain et des suggestions à cette fin. En tant que féministes, nous accordons une grande importance à la présentation de réflexions personnelles sur les défis qu’a dû relever l’équipe de recherche sur le plan affectif. Cependant, ces approches n’ont pas semblé très utiles à nos collègues sud-soudanais ; ils ont préféré discuter des défis techniques et ont mis l’accent sur l’importance du professionnalisme. Cette expérience suggère la nécessité d’outils de recherche féministe plus divers sur le plan culturel, et d’une meilleure reconnaissance du rôle crucial joué par les chercheurs nationaux dans les projets de recherche internationaux. Pour finir, nous présentons des recommandations.

El presente artículo analiza el uso de métodos feministas de práctica reflexiva con el propósito de apoyar y aprender sobre el bienestar de quienes investigan la gbv [violencia basada en el género] en Sudán del Sur. En particular, nos centramos en las experiencias de investigadores del sur de Sudán que realizan estos estudios en su propio país. En este sentido, compartimos los hallazgos clave y ofrecemos reflexiones personales y sugerencias orientadas a mejorar el trabajo de campo. Como feministas valoramos mucho compartir reflexiones personales sobre los desafíos emocionales enfrentados por el equipo de investigación. Sin embargo, nuestras colegas de Sudán del Sur no encontraron útiles estos enfoques, y prefirieron discutir los desafíos técnicos y hacer hincapié en la importancia que reviste el profesionalismo. Esta experiencia sugiere que es necesario contar con herramientas de investigación feministas más diversas culturalmente, que reconozcan de mejor manera el rol crucial desempeñado por los investigadores nacionales en proyectos de investigación internacionales. Para finalizar, realizamos recomendaciones al respecto.

KEYWORDS:

• Western feminist methodologies
• gender-based violence
• researcher well-being
• professionalism

Notes on contributors

Dashakti Reddy is a humanitarian practitioner and researcher focusing on gender-based violence and women’s protection and empowerment in emergencies. Postal address: c/o The Editor, Gender & Development, Oxfam GB, John Smith Drive, Oxford OX24 2JY, UK. Email: [email protected]

Clare Hollowell is a practitioner and researcher in gender-based violence in emergencies. At the time of the research explored in this article she was Director of Capacity Building for Forcier Consulting. Email: [email protected]

Lona Liong Charles Aresto has researched extensively in South Sudan. She is now a WASH professional in South Sudan for Oxfam.

Nyabol Grace is a South Sudanese journalist and researcher based in Cairo.

Mängu Bande Joseph is a programme officer for the Humanitarian & Development Consortium working on protection in Upper Nile State.

Joseph Aleu Mayen Ker is a consultant in South Sudan. He has researched in all ten former states, and works on food security, health and nutrition, and gender-based violence.

Jane Lado is a research and development professional in South Sudan with a specialism in public health.

Kiden Mary is a researcher and human resources professional in South Sudan, currently working with Cordaid in Juba.

Notes

1 For more information, see www.forcierconsulting.com/ (last checked 28 August 2019).

2 For more information, see www.esomar.org/what-we-do/standards (last checked 29 August 2019).

3 For more information about the KISH grid, a method of randomly selecting a household member to participate in research, see www.statisticshowto.datasciencecentral.com/kish-grid/ (last checked 28 August 2019).

4 PoCsare sites where internally displaced people (and a small number of refugees) seek refuge within pre-existing United Nations bases. PoCs differ from other camps in that in addition to displacement they explicitly function to protect residents from an immediate violent threat outside the camp. Damian Lilly explores this further in his 2014 article for the Humanitarian Practice Network: https://odihpn.org/magazine/protection-of-civilians-sites-a-new-type-of-displacement-settlement/ (last checked 28 August 2019).

5 Although these reactions are not without pitfalls. In their account of qualitative research into mental health, Mitchell and Irvine (2008) highlight how emotional rapport and sharing had a positive effect on some interviews, and could undermine relationship building in others.