Trauma in Fieldwork: Experience-sharing seminar
When we hear the word, “trauma”, most of us will think of a monumental, life-changing event such as living through a war or a one-off attack. This is not always the case – trauma can be caused by the build-up of smaller adverse experiences over time.
This safe-space seminar is designed for awareness raising about the risks of trauma from fieldwork and is suitable for any who has done, or is planning to do, research fieldwork, irrespective of discipline, context, research methods or research topic.
Researchers may be particularly vulnerable to trauma in fieldwork depending on (among others):
1) The place in which fieldwork is being conducted (e.g. a fragile country where we feel vulnerable; a remote location where we are isolated)
2) The data collection methods (e.g. enthnographic methods in which we immerse ourselves in people’s lives; in-depth interviews where we hear traumatic stories)
3) The topic of enquiry (e.g. sexual violence or social injustice)
4) The people with whom we are interacting (e.g. vulnerable and/or marginalised people).
5) A researchers’ own trauma history (e.g. growing up as a minority under structural oppression; growing up in a dysfunctional family).
Structure of the seminar:
1) Introduction by Maureen Freed
Maureen is a trauma expert and leads the Vicarious Trauma workshop hosted by the Social Science Division. She will introduce the topic of trauma and how it can make it’s way into our lives without us always noticing.
2) Experience sharing by Catherine Fallon Grasham
Catherine will share her struggle of returning home after 10 months of research fieldwork in rural Ethiopia where she was exposed to the structural violence of absolute poverty on a daily basis.
3) Open floor experience sharing and questions
An opportunity for everyone in the room to share their anxieties about their fieldwork, or any experiences that they have had, in a safe and confidential space.
4) Wrap-up and key take-aways
Date:
8 November 2022, 14:30 (Tuesday, 5th week, Michaelmas 2022)
Venue:
Dyson Perrins Building, off South Parks Road OX1 3QY
Venue Details:
Desert Room, School of Geography and the Environment
Speakers:
Maureen Freed (University of Oxford),
Dr Catherine Grasham (Postdoctoral researcher in Water Security and Society, University of Oxford)
Organising department:
School of Geography and the Environment
Organiser:
Dr Catherine Grasham (Postdoctoral researcher in Water Security and Society, University of Oxford)
Organiser contact email address:
catherine.grasham@ouce.ox.ac.uk
Host:
Dr Catherine Grasham (Postdoctoral researcher in Water Security and Society, University of Oxford)
Booking required?:
Not required
Cost:
FREE
Audience:
Members of the University only
Editor:
Catherine Grasham
