I Cant Talk to You: Reflecting on the Situated Knowledge of Women Researchers in Ethnographic Contexts in South Asia

Title

I Cant Talk to You: Reflecting on the Situated Knowledge of Women Researchers in Ethnographic Contexts in South Asia

Creator

Davis, Ann Rose; Das, Rolla

Description

This research employs an autobiographical approach to reflect on ethnographic challenges from the perspective of a woman ethnographer in Kerala, India. South Asia is not just a geographical concept but also a metaphor of exclusion, silencing, and marginalisation of underserved populations (Dutta & Visweswararv, 2019). Drawing on Jyothsna Latha Belliappas arguments on positionality and reflexivity, the findings show that ethnographic frameworks should be adapted to reflect intersectional realities and socio-cultural dynamics. Even though scholarly studies on feminist ethnography exist, there remains a huge gap in scholarship concerning how women researchers navigate kinship and religion in gendered spaces. As a woman ethnographer in the field for five months, I unlearned, re-learned, and co-learned how female nature is inscribed in various cultural locations (Sobritchea, 2002). Rethinking ethnography functions as a knowledge production system rather than merely writing a thick description of the study area. 2026 by IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved.

Source

Innovative Approaches to Social Research Challenges;pp.275-290

Date

01-01-2026

Publisher

IGI Global

Coverage

Davis A.R., Christ University, India; Das R., Mahindra University, India

Rights

Restricted Access; Hardcopy may be available in the library

Relation

ISBN: 979-833736412-4; 979-833736410-0;

Format

online

Language

English

Type

Book chapter

Identifier

https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3373-6410-0.ch010

https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105031319830?origin=resultslist