“Going into the Field” Tales from Two Female Researchers Conducting Research in Post-Conflict Nepal

Abstract

This article examines two female researchers’ fieldwork experiences researching the transitional justice process in post-conflict Nepal. Drawing on social anthropology and applied research, it explores the complexities of researcher positionality, including their gender and social status, and addresses the challenges of engaging with the “local” and managing emotions. The authors argue that researchers need to move beyond self-awareness and sit in the complex, liminal space to examine the changing agency between researched and researchers. This article also contributes to the insider/outsider dichotomy and promotes two primary reflexive practices in ethnographic research. It contributes to discussions on intersectionality of researchers’ positions, emphasizing the relational and situational nature of social identities, and the need for a nuanced understanding of the fluidities of researchers’ roles in the field.