Research on ethnic differences in understandings of and responses to reproductive technologies is limited. There are however, a small number of researchers from within anthropology, sociology and psychology who are working on this issue in relatively isolated, often small scale projects in the UK and other European countries. Research in this area is not only of substantive interest but also has much to contribute to the wider research agenda addressing methodological issues in research within discourses of ethnic and cultural difference.
This colloquium is designed to bring together leading researchers and young researchers in the field of reproductive technologies and minority ethnic and migrant communities in the UK and European countries. It is also intended to contribute to important contemporary debates surrounding the ethical, methodological and political questions which researching ethnic and cultural difference raises. It is intended to address two key sets of issues:
1. Ethical, political and methodological considerations in researching ethnic difference. It is widely recognised by those engaged in the process that working with minority ethnic communities presents additional challenges for researchers. These include issues of recruitment of participants; researcher identity and the impact of commonality and difference on data collection/analysis; translation and interpretation; research fatigue and issues of reciprocity when working with sometimes deprived or marginalised communities. This is an opportunity to discuss some of these issues in a collegiate environment, with people who have experience in this process, and to include others who would like to learn more from those who have such experience.
2. Reproductive Technologies and Ethnic/Cultural Diversity. The emphasis here will be on infertility as disrupted reproduction and the technologies associated with assisted conception. It will provide an opportunity for both researchers from a number of social science disciplines and practitioners to discuss ongoing research in this emerging field of study and to consider the potential policy and practice implications of research findings.
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