Paper short abstract:

The paper discusses field experiences and compares it to the data collected online to understand the strengths and the challenges posed by each method, in understanding decisions which are taken at the level of households.

Paper long abstract:

The administrative territory of Jammu and Kashmir, due to its tumultuous history and geopolitical location has often been considered a conflict zone. This paper draws from my Ph.D. research in Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh on the issue of what determines a gendered preference for children in varied socio-political and religious contexts and the reasons for a strong preference toward sons in certain areas. While conducting my fieldwork in Kashmir, article 370 (which grants special status to Kashmir amongst Indian states) was revoked, leading to a widespread curfew and almost a year-long internet clamp-down in the valley. Post this, as Covid-19 made in-person fieldwork impossible, online methods were used to complete the remaining part of the research.

In this context, the paper explores the opportunities digital methods offer to understand areas in conflict, by providing a relatively safe haven for the researcher, flexible timings, and even greater access to certain risky zones. The paper also stresses the challenges of using technology for studying intra-household relations and family-building strategies, given the inherently gendered nature of technology and its use being limited to a certain age group ( younger, literate population). These issues are further exacerbated since women are considered more vulnerable in conflict zones and hence their mobility and interactions are closely guarded. Thus, issues of access to technology, understanding of its usage, infrastructural gaps, navigating language barriers, and understanding the non-verbal responses and the emotions behind the responses become tougher to navigate in the online mode.