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What do you want to know?” Feminist reflections on interviewing migrant women selling sex in Istanbul

Volume: 3 Number: 1 May 18, 2023

What do you want to know?” Feminist reflections on interviewing migrant women selling sex in Istanbul

Abstract

This paper is a critical reflective analysis of the methodological and ethical issues I confronted during my fieldwork with Ugandan migrant women involved in selling sex in Istanbul. Conducting a research with such a fragile group, especially with migrant women in a dynamic and sensitive environment involves in different methodological and ethical challenges. Based on semi-structured in-depth interviews, informal conversations and observations, the research was focused on the relationships around commercial sex industry in Ugandan community. The researcher’s position, access to participants through gatekeepers, the hierarchy between the researcher and ‘the researched’ in interviewing women and the data analysis process will be discussed in the light of feminist discussions on methodological approaches. It is argued that being aware of the asymmetric power relations and seeking the possibilities of non-hierarchical relationships in the research processes is an important approach that the feminist methodology offers to researchers.

Keywords

References

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  3. Coşkun, E. (2018). Criminalisation and prostitution of migrant women in Turkey: A case study, Women's Studies International Forum, 68, 85-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2018.03.002
  4. Coşkun, E., Sarıalioğlu, Ö. & Dinçer, C. G. (2020). Discourse, method and ethics in migration studies: is a feminist methodology possible?, Fe Dergi, 12 (1), 70-81.
  5. Gülçür, L. & İlkkaracan, P. (2002). the “Natasha” experience: migrant sex workers from the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe in Turkey, Women’s Studies International Forum, 4, 411 – 421.
  6. Harding, S. (2004). “Introduction”, In The feminist standpoint theory reader: intellectual and political controversies, S. Harding (ed.). London and New York: Routledge, pp.1-17.
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  8. Hooks, B. (1995). Killing Rage: Ending Racism. New Yok: Henry Holt and Company.

Details

Primary Language

Turkish

Subjects

Migration Sociology, Sociology (Other)

Journal Section

Other

Publication Date

May 18, 2023

Submission Date

March 24, 2023

Acceptance Date

April 9, 2023

Published in Issue

Year 2023 Volume: 3 Number: 1

APA
Coşkun, E. (2023). What do you want to know?” Feminist reflections on interviewing migrant women selling sex in Istanbul. İnsan Hareketliliği Uluslararası Dergisi, 3(1), 76-93. https://izlik.org/JA47FR54CF
AMA
1.Coşkun E. What do you want to know?” Feminist reflections on interviewing migrant women selling sex in Istanbul. İnsan Hareketliliği Uluslararası Dergisi. 2023;3(1):76-93. https://izlik.org/JA47FR54CF
Chicago
Coşkun, Emel. 2023. “What Do You Want to Know?” Feminist Reflections on Interviewing Migrant Women Selling Sex in Istanbul”. İnsan Hareketliliği Uluslararası Dergisi 3 (1): 76-93. https://izlik.org/JA47FR54CF.
EndNote
Coşkun E (May 1, 2023) What do you want to know?” Feminist reflections on interviewing migrant women selling sex in Istanbul. İnsan Hareketliliği Uluslararası Dergisi 3 1 76–93.
IEEE
[1]E. Coşkun, “What do you want to know?” Feminist reflections on interviewing migrant women selling sex in Istanbul”, İnsan Hareketliliği Uluslararası Dergisi, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 76–93, May 2023, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA47FR54CF
ISNAD
Coşkun, Emel. “What Do You Want to Know?” Feminist Reflections on Interviewing Migrant Women Selling Sex in Istanbul”. İnsan Hareketliliği Uluslararası Dergisi 3/1 (May 1, 2023): 76-93. https://izlik.org/JA47FR54CF.
JAMA
1.Coşkun E. What do you want to know?” Feminist reflections on interviewing migrant women selling sex in Istanbul. İnsan Hareketliliği Uluslararası Dergisi. 2023;3:76–93.
MLA
Coşkun, Emel. “What Do You Want to Know?” Feminist Reflections on Interviewing Migrant Women Selling Sex in Istanbul”. İnsan Hareketliliği Uluslararası Dergisi, vol. 3, no. 1, May 2023, pp. 76-93, https://izlik.org/JA47FR54CF.
Vancouver
1.Emel Coşkun. What do you want to know?” Feminist reflections on interviewing migrant women selling sex in Istanbul. İnsan Hareketliliği Uluslararası Dergisi [Internet]. 2023 May 1;3(1):76-93. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA47FR54CF