WHO WEARS THE TROUSERS - SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN RESEARCH SETTINGS

This article draws upon the experiences of four women in Glasgow (The Researching AIDS Women's Group - RAW) who were involved in four differ ent studies about HIV-related risk behaviours. Field research was cond ucted in a number of research settings and included asking respondents about details of their sexual behaviour. On a number of occasions thi s was viewed as 'provocative' by male heterosexual respondents and led to overt or covert sexual harassment. This article collates some of t hese experiences and the strategies we developed to deal with them. Co mparing our experiences with other fieldworkers we conclude that the c ombination of a 'sexy' subject matter, in-depth interviewing, and our age and gender and that of our respondents made us particularly vulner able to being sexually harassed during fieldwork, but that all fieldwo rkers are potentially vulnerable. We therefore urge that safety of fie ld workers be given greater consideration.