Reading and annotating Murchinson’s chapters made me realise how much my own research projects need refining. I found myself trying to check all the boxes (find a topic that needs to be studied, that contributes to a larger body of knowledge and is oriented towards problem solving etc…) but when it came to more concrete aspects of my work like data collection I was made aware that I am not nearly enough organized or systematic as an ethnographer. The chapters reminded me indeed of my status of apprentice before anything else – an apprentice who needs to keep her expectations and preconceived notions in check. In my line of work, it seems indeed so easy to put the subjects of my research in a box – the bad guys, the villain male supremacists etc. But their reality is a lot more diverse and complex than this and it is my responsibility as the ethnographer to not occult all these complexities in my quest to knowledge.
Which brings me to the fascinating topic of ethics. Murchinson is very clear when it comes to the fact that the ethnographer’s primary responsibility is to their informant. And I agree. Having access to their inner thoughts and experiences is a privilege one should be aware of. No matter who they are, I shall protect their privacy and anonimity if they wished to remain so. However, a complete other range of ethical questions was raised thereafter: for instance, in order to have access to certain resource and data, I find myself having to give money to miscellaneous radical groups whose ideology I am committed in fighting, which would go against my personal principles. But at the same time, if I don’t pay them that money (to assist to a conference or have access to a membership for a certain website or newspaper) I won’t have access to the information I need. This conundrum to this day leaves me puzzled.