A Reflexivity on Ethical Conundrum of Female Genital Mutilation/Circumcision (FGM-C) Research.

This reflexive paper explores the ethical conundrums, methodological complexities, and researcher positionality encountered during a doctoral study on Female Genital Mutilation/Circumcision (FGM-C) among Nigerian communities in London. Drawing on a mixed-methods approach, the research critically assessed the influence of religion and culture on FGM-C perceptions and practices. Reflexivity was employed throughout the study to interrogate the researcher’s dual positionality as an insider (shared ethnicity) and outsider (male researcher studying a feminist issue), with emphasis on power dynamics, gender sensitivities, and ethical obligations.

Ethical approval for the study involved prolonged negotiations, split applications for quantitative and qualitative phases, and careful documentation to meet institutional requirements. Fieldwork access was secured through collaboration with three Nigerian community-based organizations in London, with support from a trained female volunteer to address gendered interactions in data collection.

Key findings include unanticipated dynamics in focus group discussions and quantitative data analysis, insights into participant resilience, and the researcher’s evolving understanding of ethical integrity, emotional resilience, and methodological rigour. The paper contributes to the growing body of literature on ethical praxis in sensitive public health research and underscores the importance of reflexivity, insider/outsider awareness, and trauma-informed methodologies. Implications for research, policy, and practice in diasporic health contexts are discussed.