Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Gender Studies and Sexuality, 2024
Year: 2024
DOI:
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Crafting Selves Through Others: The Ethics of Transnational Probes into Sexuality in East Asia
Robert Hamilton, Ph.D
ABSTRACT:
This study examines the implications of ethnically non-Asian researchers conducting ethnographic and interview-based field work on sensitive sexual topics in East Asian countries. It focuses on the potential for ‘racializing’ and sexualizing biases in such scholarly work. Incorporating insights from scholars like Dorinne Kondo and Sara Ahmed. The paper specifically probes into two controversial instances: the recent retraction of a book chapter on homophobia and violence in the South Korean military and a contentious methodological approach in a published work on masturbation in Japan. The findings underscore complexities of identity formation as junior scholars focusing on research in East Asian studies and the importance of understanding power dynamics, race, and positionality in transnational academic research. The study demonstrates the potential harm that can arise from ethical violations and failure to adhere to basic principles of informed consent. It emphasizes the importance of training junior scholars in nuanced, intersectional methodologies for conducting sensitive topical research in East Asia while emphasizing the need to uphold the dignity of study participants and their communities.
keywords: Transnational research; East Asian contexts; Foreign scholars; Identity formation; Academic integrity