Taking a postcolonial approach to research ethics
Supriya Subramani1, Sydney Health Ethics, School Of Public Health, Faculty Of Medicine And Health, University Of Sydney 1Sydney Health Ethics, School Of Public Health, Faculty Of Medicine And Health, University Of Sydney
Abstract
While global south scholars are increasingly emphasizing decolonizing bioethics, little has been done to integrate insights from postcolonial theory into research ethics in the field of bioethics, given the power and inequality inherent in conducting research in postcolonial settings. Scholars have argued that existing ethical frameworks are inadequate to address the unique challenges of research conducted in postcolonial contexts. Therefore, comprehensive frameworks that take into account postcolonial societies’ social, political and cultural context need to be developed. The aim of this presentation is to consider the possibility of postcolonial theory for understanding research ethics and its implications for qualitative research in bioethics domain, particularly research that employs qualitative methodologies. In order to do so, I will first illustrate the postcolonial condition which demonstrates the dominant approach to research ethics. Next, I will discuss the learnings and challenges I encountered during my fieldwork in Chennai, South India and Zurich, Switzerland, in order to disrupt and resist dominant approaches to research ethics. In conclusion, I will highlight the diverse theoretical perspectives in qualitative inquiry and postcolonial studies that emphasize reflexive ethics that demand critical consciousness and moral dialogue in order to challenge neocolonial research ethics.
Biography
My research interests lie at the intersection of emotions, healthcare ethics and behaviour. I employ qualitative methodology to explore the moral subjectivities of individuals. As part of my research, I study how healthcare is shaped by ideas, social categories, experiences, identities, and relationships. My ongoing projects are concerned with how emotions, moral epistemology and everyday interactions influence one’s moral self; and how power is negotiated and challenged by individuals (patients; immigrants) in interpersonal interactions and institutions, particularly in healthcare settings.