Ethical dilemmas or uneasy situations? Using a dialogical reflective method to address intersectional challenges in research conducted by female researchers with male participants

Abstract

Ethical dilemmas in research are common and often anticipated through institutional review processes, yet some challenges only surface during fieldwork. These unanticipated dilemmas are discussed far less frequently by women researchers, partly due to shame, stigma, or the absence of supportive spaces for reflection. Although interviews are not inherently uncomfortable, the intimacy of researcher–participant interactions can generate unease, shaped by intersecting dynamics of gender, sexuality, race, migration status, and political difference. Attending to these moments is central to feminist research and to an ethics of care. Drawing on two studies conducted by female migrant researchers working with male migrants in the UK and Ireland, this paper examines how research topics and data-collection methods can contribute to ethically troubling encounters. It proposes a staged approach that begins with broader conversations and sustained critical reflection on participatory methods to better navigate boundary‑management challenges and reduce the likelihood of uneasy situations.