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| Vibrance Newsletter | ||
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| "I'm Just a Girl Who Can't Say No" - Women, Consent, and Sex Research |
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| Written by Petra M. Boyton, PhD | ||||||
Page 3 of 4 Who's the researcher?It has been suggested that if people perceive researchers to be similar to them, they are more likely to co-operate. Within sex research it may be that the gender of the researcher could influence volunteer rates, along with the behaviour of participants in any subsequent studies. Evidence suggests that women are more likely to complete personal studies if a the researcher is female and for very sensitive issues, or research completed in the participant's home, it is preferable to have a same-sex interviewer. It may also be beneficial to utilise researchers who the participant feels they have a relationship with, as women have been found to reveal more to women they know. In addition, offering participants a choice of researcher has been found to be empowering, particularly if the researcher is from the same social or ethnic group as the participant. However, choice is the key here. We should not assume that because a researcher shares the same skin colour or gender they will automatically be the same as the participant. Nor that participants' will universally understand or appreciate a Western definition of consent. Ultimately researchers should be trained to appreciate and be sensitive to difference. Sex researchers have found being linked to a particular area of research has led to them being perceived negatively, with some popular media reports highlighting the sexual practices, or marital problems of famous sex researchers. If participants are aware of these factors, their behaviour towards a researcher may alter - as may their reasons for consenting. Yet as these details are not always collected and reported, and as researcher's may feel that their status could be detrimentally affected by discussing them, problems surrounding the role of the researcher may continue. In addition, researchers are frequently not trained, supported or monitored. Given that many research assistants are female, and participants may request a female researcher, it is important that support for personal wellbeing and safety is also offered to the researcher. Mentoring of researchers can also mean the way in which they consent participants to studies can be further monitored - as evidence suggests people become less concerned about ethics and the wellbeing of participants/patients, the longer they work in an area. Conclusions Many concerns about sex research are not necessarily linked to the sex component, but to the manner in which the research is conducted - therefore if work is completed in an ethically and methodologically sound manner, additional concerns and problems may be managed more successfully. However, this does not answer the original question about women in sex research, nor how to increase female volunteers, so the following points should also be considered. |
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 26 March 2007 ) | ||||||
