Researching Homosexuality in Difficult Contexts
Homosexuality is a sensitive issue in Africa that inspires a great deal of public contention and controversy and attracts much social science research interest. Due to the sensitivity of the issue, conducting empirical research on homosexuality in Africa or within African population groups could be...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Sexes |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5118/4/4/37 |
| _version_ | 1797379334005063680 |
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| author | Frida Lyonga |
| author_facet | Frida Lyonga |
| author_sort | Frida Lyonga |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Homosexuality is a sensitive issue in Africa that inspires a great deal of public contention and controversy and attracts much social science research interest. Due to the sensitivity of the issue, conducting empirical research on homosexuality in Africa or within African population groups could be subject to several challenges. This article presents an autoethnographic account of my experiences conducting empirical research on attitudes towards homosexuality among Cameroonians based at home and those living in Switzerland. The paper highlights the key challenges, surprises, and lessons learned experienced in the different stages of the research process, from design to data collection, analysis, and publication of findings. Drawing on these experiences, the article calls attention to some aspects that young researchers embarking on research in sensitive topics should be aware of and should plan for upfront. It proposes practical coping approaches that can support young researchers to navigate the difficult waters of researching homosexuality in challenging settings so they can achieve their research goals within the timeframe and resources available to them. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:21:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-08df421cbddd411d8b15e916ef2d4c4f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2411-5118 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:21:38Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sexes |
| spelling | doaj.art-08df421cbddd411d8b15e916ef2d4c4f2023-12-22T14:42:19ZengMDPI AGSexes2411-51182023-11-014456958610.3390/sexes4040037Researching Homosexuality in Difficult ContextsFrida Lyonga0Department of Sociology, University of Basel, 4001 Basel, SwitzerlandHomosexuality is a sensitive issue in Africa that inspires a great deal of public contention and controversy and attracts much social science research interest. Due to the sensitivity of the issue, conducting empirical research on homosexuality in Africa or within African population groups could be subject to several challenges. This article presents an autoethnographic account of my experiences conducting empirical research on attitudes towards homosexuality among Cameroonians based at home and those living in Switzerland. The paper highlights the key challenges, surprises, and lessons learned experienced in the different stages of the research process, from design to data collection, analysis, and publication of findings. Drawing on these experiences, the article calls attention to some aspects that young researchers embarking on research in sensitive topics should be aware of and should plan for upfront. It proposes practical coping approaches that can support young researchers to navigate the difficult waters of researching homosexuality in challenging settings so they can achieve their research goals within the timeframe and resources available to them.https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5118/4/4/37sensitive researchhomosexualityAfrican contextautoethnography |
| spellingShingle | Frida Lyonga Researching Homosexuality in Difficult Contexts Sexes sensitive research homosexuality African context autoethnography |
| title | Researching Homosexuality in Difficult Contexts |
| title_full | Researching Homosexuality in Difficult Contexts |
| title_fullStr | Researching Homosexuality in Difficult Contexts |
| title_full_unstemmed | Researching Homosexuality in Difficult Contexts |
| title_short | Researching Homosexuality in Difficult Contexts |
| title_sort | researching homosexuality in difficult contexts |
| topic | sensitive research homosexuality African context autoethnography |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5118/4/4/37 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fridalyonga researchinghomosexualityindifficultcontexts |