Ethics of Ethnography with Families: A Geographical Perspective

Sarah Marie Hall
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Sarah Marie Hall: Geography, School of Environment, Education and Development, Arthur Lewis Building, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, England

Environment and Planning A, 2014, vol. 46, issue 9, 2175-2194

Abstract: This paper contributes to debates on geographies of family and intimate relations, and research ethics in ethnographic research by addressing the ethics of doing ethnography with families. Drawing on debates in human geography, anthropology, and sociology, I argue that the intimate nature of both ethnography and familial relations presents particular challenges to using an ethnographic approach to studying families. Using experiences from two years of ethnographic research with six families in the UK, the ethics of confidentiality (within and between families, and in published materials), and disengagement (following long-term involvement, transforming relationships, and staying in contact with participants) are explored. In addition, the paper sheds light on the geographical and ethical complexities of doing ‘ethnography on your doorstep’. The conclusions outline the contributions of the paper to discussions within and beyond geography, family studies, and ethnography.

Keywords: ethnography; family; ethics; intimacy; distance; ethnography on your doorstep (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:envira:v:46:y:2014:i:9:p:2175-2194

DOI: 10.1068/a130077p

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