Abstract

GRACA, Marta  and  GONCALVES, Manuela. Knowledge, Practice and Ethics: Challenges of Action Research with Street-based Female Sex Workers. Revista Crítica de Ciências Sociais [online]. 2015, n.108, pp.135-156. ISSN 2182-7435.  https://doi.org/10.4000/rccs.6143.

The paradigm, as a philosophy and mould, guides the research process and takes a key role on which is paramount to reflect. In studies on sex work, we feel that the paradigm is of extra importance, because prostitution is usually seen as a controversial issue. In this paper we look at the social-critical paradigm based on an ongoing action research project with an outreach team and sex workers. We focus on the four conceptual areas of the paradigm, i.e. ontology, epistemology, methodology and ethics, and we establish a meeting point with feminism. We conclude that ethics is crucial, acknowledging that knowledge production and the transformation of practice are both based on an interpersonal relationship. We further suggest that more participatory, people-centered, research is needed, carefully protected with ethical practice, reflection and validation of subjectivities.

Keywords : action research; ethics; feminism; prostitution; research methodology.

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