Mining and Gender Research: Methodology Issues

Research methodology is an important issue for our team.I n the middle of our research fieldwork at Vilabouly, our team members think very carefully about some methodological issues. We understand that conducting a research fieldwork on gender and mining can be very sensitive from both political and industrial sides in Lao PDR.

As a researcher, I certainly have learnt a great deal of research practices and protocol from the fieldwork and I would like to share some thoughts with you.

1)    Don’t Let Terms such as ‘mining’, ‘gender’ or ‘community’ Mislead You! I learn that sometimes we tend to have pre-judgmental perceptions when we think of such terms. I had to tell myself to be neutral and try to seek truths from the participants’ perspectives. Sometimes when I started the interview with questions on mining and gender, I had to think very carefully about not to lead the common perceptions of generic mining industry that we always hear in the media.

2)    Be Honest with Everyone in the Entire Research Process! You will work with people at different roles and responsibilities when you conduct research. In Laos, we have to deal with a number of government officers from different levels and agencies, NGOs, communities, villagers, shop owners, workers, men and women from different ethnic groups etc. They need to know the ideas of your research. Make sure you can communicate your research with them very succinctly, clearly in the simple language.

3)      Language, Language, Language! As a Thai speaker who informally learnt Laos, I expected no major problems in conducting personal and group interviews. Oh! I was wrong! In these 6-7 villages, diversity is a key characteristic. You will work with Bru, Phu Thai, Laos Theung speakers. Vientiane accent will be useful but not entirely helpful! Make sure you have a translator next to you when you go to the community. I had 2 translators and that’s been really helpful.

4)      Working the Politics of Research!  I learnt from my colleagues from the National University of Laos that we need extra times to work with several Governmental agencies, chief of district, heads of different villages. The fact that gender can be really sensitive, our objectives must be clearly communicated to all Governmental agencies and the communities. Gender is not a brand new issue in Laos and most women are aware of this issue. However, when you add the complication of international mining industry in to this equation, our ideas (questions, points and issues) must be clearly communicate.

5)       Be Flexible with the Data Collection! Miners work at different times and hours. Do not force them to come to you but you need to be flexible with them. In mining industry, people work at different levels and jobs. Most women in our study work as cleaners, admin. persons and unexploded ordnance persons. We have to be flexible with time and ready to adapt our schedule, language and approaches.
There are a lot more points to share. These points strike my thoughts as potential ideas to develop into a research methodology paper in the future.

I would like to share the feelings of our team on ‘methodology’ in the form of ‘photostory’ and we hope that this story will help you to understand complex issues of doing research on gender and mining.