Review: The sound of ‘silence’: a framework for researching sensitive issues or marginalised perspectives in health

Abstract

I thoroughly enjoyed this excellent paper and wish it had been published in advance of my own research with young marginalised men. The author offers this framework as a means of researching sensitive issues and combining sexual health, gender and ethnicity, a tall order for any researcher.As stated by the author, the initial research was conducted in 2000, a year before the first ever national sexual health strategy for England (Department of Health in 2001) was published and at a time when sexual health was frequently couched in terms of statistics and figures about high rates of sexually transmitted infections(STIs). The strategy outlined the prevalence of STIs, HIV and conception rates amongst the population and focussed on the disproportionate high levels of STIs amongst minority and marginalised groups and in particular black Caribbean young men. The data which generates these figures is collected from returns submitted from clinics where individuals attend for screening and treatment.Whilst the quantitative data presented by the strategy is very important, it offers no opportunities for understanding what factors influence individuals in their sexual health decision making or choices. By understanding how the social world is constructed and determined by the individual at a given time in history should help researchers gain a deeper knowledge of what constitutes the reality for others.I especially liked the reference to the work of Michel Foucault who himself said much about sexuality and sexual expression and how moral panic and acceptability was played out by society at any given time. Foucault talks a lot about marginalised groups or 'others' and how they are placed within society, often with limited power to act and have a 'voice'.The author positions her research within a wide range of factors, for example aspects of life, social change, politics and human beliefs. The four stage approach offered takes the reader on a journey from accepting the values and experiences of the participants in equal

Views of female genital mutilation survivors, men and health-care professionals on timing of deinfibulation surgery and NHS service provision: qualitative FGM Sister Study

“…Importantly, this stage involved 'transferring power to the participants, thus ensuring that their experiences [and preferences] count as valuable and ensuring their voices [are] not further silenced'. 89…”

Review: Silence of a scream: application of the Silences Framework to provision of nurse-led interventions for ex-offenders

“…The framework used follows that originally formulated by Laura Serrant (Serrant-Green, 2011) and is based on her doctoral thesis with black Caribbean men. The reviewer of the original paper (French, 2011) noted that the framework complemented quantitative data about factors influencing sexual health decisions, providing a way to understand how the social world is constructed and a deeper knowledge of what constitutes reality for individuals. Likewise, this holds true in this paper within the context of the health pathway followed by ex-offenders.…”