Short Abstract:

Departing from decolonial feminist ethnography we propose a participatory laboratory on the ethical dilemmas of doing/undoing intimacy in ethnographic fieldwork. Patchworking is used as a method to create a space for collective knowledge production, building a map of our ideas with pieces of paper.

Long Abstract:

Departing from decolonial feminist ethnography we propose a participatory laboratory on the ethical dilemmas of doing and undoing intimacy in ethnographic fieldwork. Intimacy is not fixed, and thus has the potential of undoing normative assumptions about ‘private’ life and relationships, extending the meaning of intimacy to challenge hierarchical structures and use emotions and affects as critical tools in fieldwork.

The lab uses patchwork as an experimental method for engaging everyone in a collaborative space of collective knowledge production. We create fragmented pieces of knowledge through linking our thoughts and associations. The aim is not to reach one solution but an ongoing practice of staying with the trouble, staying with complexities.

The workshop starts with the two convenors having a ‘inspirational’ conversation about dilemmas from their own ethnographic fieldwork, one with sex workers and the other with institutional social work on domestic violence. This section lasts maximum 20 minutes. During this talk participants, sitting in a circle, are encouraged to write down associations related to the topic on a piece of paper. Thereafter, everyone puts their papers in the middle of the circle creating a patchwork from where we collectively think about intimacy in fieldwork. Blank papers and pens are needed in the room for participants to make their patches. The whole session will last approximately 1,5 hours with a maximum of 15 participants, no pre-registration required.