Gendered risks in survey research: reflections from South African exit polls

ABSTRACT

This research note considers gendered risks within survey research, which, it argues, are a frequently overlooked aspect of this form of quantitative research. By reflecting on the process of conducting exit polls in South Africa, the research note highlights the importance of discussing the gendered practice of research and sexualized harassment in quantitative as well as qualitative research methods training. It suggests the need to make training on sexualized harassment as a key part of all research methods training.

KEYWORDS:

• Survey research
• gendered risk
• sexualized harassment
• exit polls

Acknowledgments

My thanks to Arina Sibanda who undertook the majority of the interviews that allowed us to reflect on this research process. Heidi Brooks and Elina Hankela read and engaged with a previous draft of this research note and provided generous feedback. The mistakes, both past and present, remain my own.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. Following Kloβ (2017), I use the term sexualized harassment rather than sexual harassment to emphasise that such behaviours are located within patriarchal power rather than sexual attraction.

Additional information

Funding

University of Johannesburg University Research Committee and the University of Johannesburg Humanities Faculty Research Committee.

Notes on contributors

Carin Runciman

Carin Runciman is an Associate Professor at the Centre for Social Change, University of Johannesburg. Her research specialises in Black working class politics and activism in post-apartheid South Africa