The relational ethics of cultural safety, rights, and desire: Reflections on doing community-engaged research with migrant families in Indonesia

Date

2017

Authors

Ball, Jessica
Beazley, Harriot

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Migraciones

Abstract

A study of birth registration decision making by Indonesian parents involved in transnational migration is discussed with reference to the authors' long-standing use of an approach centred on the relational ethics of cultural safety, rights, and desire in community-engaged research. Ethical dilemmas encountered in obtaining informed consent and conducting the research, resulting from social hierarchies, social protocols, and socio-emotional considerations, illustrated limited, often mismatched perspectives on consent, privacy, and protection on the parts of research gatekeepers in minority and majority contexts. The article discusses "inthe-moment" adaptations to planned data collection procedures. These adaptations were guided by relational ethics aimed at ensuring, not only meaningful data, but consent, authenticity, socio-emotional and cultural safety, a legacy of good relations with village leaders, and beneficial outcomes for community members.

Description

Keywords

community engagement, cultural safety, relational ethics, rights-based research, transnational migrants

Citation

Ball, J. & Beazley, H. (2017). The relational ethics of cultural safety, rights, and desire: Reflections on doing community-engaged research with migrant families in Indonesia. Migraciones, 42, 119-147. DOI: mig.i42.y2017.006