Exploring gender, age, time and space in research with older Pakistani Muslims in the United Kingdom: formalised research 'ethics' and performances of the public/private divide in 'the field'

Authors:
ZUBAIR Maria, VICTOR Christina
Journal article citation:
Ageing and Society, 35(5), 2015, pp.961-985.
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press

Reflecting on the authors experiences of undertaking fieldwork for the Economic and Social Research Council New Dynamics of Ageing study of ‘Families and Caring in South Asian Communities', this paper maps out the key methodological and ethical challenges for researching ageing ethnic minority populations and highlights the importance of developing socially appropriate research methodologies and ethical frameworks for carrying out research. Using a reflexive approach, the paper explores the significance of gender, age, time and space to the fieldwork processes and the ‘field’ relationships formed at various stages of the research process. In particular it focuses on three key emergent issues which presented particular challenges for the authors and their older Pakistani Muslim participants: (a) structuring of time in daily life; (b) gendered use of public and private spaces; and (c) orality of informal social contexts and relationships. Using illustrations from fieldwork and performativities of public/private identities, the authors highlight important tensions between formalised ethical and methodological dimensions of conducting funded research and the realities of being in ‘the field’. The paper concludes by emphasising the need to explore further not only the ways in which researchers can adopt more socially and culturally sensitive data collection processes and methodologies at the micro level of their interactions with research participants, but also contextualising the particular challenges experienced by researchers and their participants in terms of the wider research frameworks and agendas as well as the broader social contexts within which they live and work. (Edited publisher abstract)

Subject terms:
gender, ageing, Muslims, research ethics, ethnicity, older people, field work, South Asian people, families, carers;
Content type:
research
Location(s):
United Kingdom
Links:
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ISSN online:
1469-1779
ISSN print:
0144-686X

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