Adrianna Surmiak
Prace Etnograficzne, Tom 38, 2010, s. 179 - 186
Engaged anthropologist. About the need of boundaries
In this article, the author analyses the ethical and psychological consequences of connecting research with a social activity. Her analysis is based on her own studies. The first example is the research she conducted as a streetworker in the environment of street prostitutes. The second example is the research from the Centre for Crisis Intervention, where she played the role of: the Centre’s ward, an informer (who gave out information to nuns and the tutor about the girl’s disobedience of regulations) and a mediator between the Centre’s employees and their wards. The mentioned experiences are a pretext to consider the responsibilities, that an engaged anthropologist bears, being both a researcher and activist. In this context the author tries to persuade, that there is a need to determine boundaries for our involvement.