Question

What role does ethnography play in the study of sexuality across cultures? What are some of the risks that ethnographers might face when studying sexuality?

Answer 1

Research on sexuality has featured prominently in anthropology and sociology, with ethnography as a key methodological approach. Studies focus on developing cross-cultural comparisons of diverse sexual mores and customs. Ethnography has allowed an investigation of sexual cultures and the social and cultural construction of sexual practices, playing an especially important role in documenting sexual diversity and same-sex sexual relations in different societies.

As topics pertaining to sexuality as highly stigmatised in most societies, an ethnographer must exercise discretion and caution as he/she risks offending, alienating or harming those being observed. Furthermore, the research can involve prolonged time in the field, particularly because building trust with participants to discuss these sensitive issues is usually necessary for obtaining data.