Feminist Ethics and Research with Women in Prison

Abstract

In this article, a new model, An Ethic of Empathy, is proposed as a guide for researchers, particularly new scholars to the discipline. This model emerged from the authors’ concerns regarding the application of ethics to studies that focus on the experience of female offenders in criminal justice systems. The key issue is the vulnerability of incarcerated and post-release women in relationship to the powerful status of social scientist researchers. The complexity of ethics in such research settings necessitates a particular ethical preparation, involving formation, reflection, understanding, commitment, care, and empathy. Three cases are outlined which document the authors’ ethical formations as researchers.

‘How I'm feeling today, I probably won't be feeling tomorrow’. Using I-Poems to explore young people's changing emotions during the Covid-19 pandemic – A qualitative, longitudinal study

“…As our primary aim was to explore young people's ‘journey’ in and out of lockdown, we felt that a one-off interview would not adequately capture this experience. Meanwhile, ontologically, use of diaries aligned both with the focus on exploring the unfolding nature of the crisis, as well as with a feminist ethics of care, justice and empathy ( Quinlan et al, 2022 ; Tarrant & Hughes, 2019 ), which emphasises the need to ensure that experiences can be sensitively captured and explored. Here and elsewhere, we also suggest that diaries have the potential to break down power dynamics and/or be cathartic or therapeutic for participants (Anonymous, 2022 – details omitted for double blind reviewing).…”

Stigma, Outsider Status and Mothers in Prison

“…This was an emotive subject for many of the participants and opportunities were frequently given to stop the interview if the participant wished. Compassion was a key element throughout the interviews and Baldwin (2021:181) highlights the importance of ‘an honourable mindfulness’ with Quinlan et al (2022:172) stressing that an ‘Ethic of Empathy’ is key during interviews with vulnerable women. No participants withdrew from the interviews and interviews lasted from 1 hour to almost 3 hours.…”