Dilemmas of interviewing women who have given birth in Pakistan

This paper focuses upon dilemmas that arose when Pakistani women were interviewed about their birth experiences in Pakistan. The dilemmas are grounded in issues from my own background and research stance and the methodology used. These factors expose issues from my white Western heritage and entry to the research field, as well as dilemmas ranging from power within the method to the sensitivity around the role and accountability of the interviewer. The over-arching dilemma involves the heavy weight of responsibility incumbent upon me to interpret the women's words accurately and leave them unharmed by the experience of being interviewed.