Researching without oppressing? A reflexive analysis of asymmetries generated and amplified by an inquiry in prisons

Abstract

Following works opening the black box of fieldwork with vulnerable actors, this article presents some questions raised by a participatory action research project in prisons. A reflexive analysis of the fieldwork has led to the following conclusion: conducting fieldwork with vulnerable actors can generate asymmetries between the researcher and participants, and amplify asymmetries already existing in the field. After a presentation of concrete situations leading to this conclusion, I question the possibility of conducting fieldwork without oppressing participants. This article does not bring a definitive and prescriptive answer to this question. Rather, this article offers methodological and ethical suggestions that aim to rebalance relationships between all the actors involved in the fieldwork.