Positioning Vulnerability, Empowerment and Ethics

Reflections on Studying Sex Trafficking

Guest: Ileana-Maria Turda, University of Central Lancashire, UK

Research on sex trafficking is confronted with various ethical considerations and dilemmas when victims and survivors are involved as participants. This presentation is inspired by an ongoing doctoral study in the UK and Romania, which explores Romanian women’s post-trafficking trajectories. It provides a critical overview of challenges encountered in research planning and online data collection, the roles of gatekeeps, and ‘the question of ethics’ as being used both as a tool for participation and empowerment and or further exclusion and silencing. This presentation will highlight the journey and the researcher’s reflections on researching a sensitive topic.   

Ileana-Maria Turda is a PhD candidate at the School of Social Work, Care and Community at the University of Central Lancashire, UK under the Doctoral Training Alliance COFUND Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship. Her current research focuses on sex trafficking in the context of the UK and Romania, looking at the post-trafficking trajectories and experiences of Romanian women sexually exploited in the UK. Ileana-Maria is a social worker with previous work experience and research conducted in the field of migration, refugees and human trafficking in various refugee settings in Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and East Asia.    

14 Iunie, 18:00, Dostoievski str., nr. 34 – 36, room 7