Formidable fieldwork: Experiences of a lesbian researcher in post-conflict Northern Ireland
Formidable fieldwork: Experiences of a lesbian researcher in post-conflict Northern Ireland
The chapter examines the experiences of a lesbian researcher from the United States conducting fieldwork in post-conflict Northern Ireland. It outlines the author’s fears that her sexuality would hamper her ability to access Protestant paramilitary networks and explores her concerns that her familial affiliation to such communities in Northern Ireland might compromise scholarly analysis. Drawing on data from interviews conducted by the author with Protestant women paramilitaries, the chapter provides a first-hand account of the often disordered and untidy nature of fieldwork in conflict-affected environments. In light of these challenges, the chapter asserts that feminist research methodology offers promising tools and frameworks that can assist researchers in preparing to enter the field. Lastly, the chapter solidifies the critical importance of researchers acknowledging how their own identities impact the process of meaning making.
Keywords: sexuality, paramilitaries, Northern Ireland, feminist, Loyalist, interviewing
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