Researching Masculinity and Men’s Sexual Health in Bangladesh: Methodological Reflections

Kamrul Hasan

doi:10.18778/1733-8077.17.4.03

Authors

Kamrul Hasan Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Sydney, Australia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5960-4971

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/1733-8077.17.4.03

Keywords:

Sexuality, Masculinities, Reflexivity, Sexual Health, Qualitative Research, Bangladesh

Abstract

Sex and sexuality are deemed “sensitive” issues in relatively conservative, predominantly Muslim countries. Men’s sex and sexualities research within such cultural contexts confronts certain challenges and raises important methodological issues. This paper reflects on some of the methodological issues and challenges encountered when carrying out a study in Bangladesh. It reports on a male researcher’s qualitative study of men’s sexual health and masculinity in Bangladesh, a predominantly Muslim country where sexuality is largely constituted as a taboo subject. The researcher faced challenges in gaining access and in discussing sex and sexuality issues in interview settings. Moreover, the interview context emerged as a site for expressing, negotiating, challenging men and masculinities. Drawing upon experiences in navigating the “field” in Bangladesh, some of the useful ways of researching “sensitive” issues such as sex, sexuality, and masculinity within these settings are suggested, highlighting what works when researching men’s sexual health and masculinity.

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Author Biography

Kamrul Hasan, Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Sydney, Australia

Md Kamrul Hasan is an Adjunct Research Fellow at the Bangladesh Institute of Social Research Trust (BISRT) and a staff member at Western Sydney University, Australia. He held positions at BRAC University in Bangladesh and at Chiang Mai University, Thailand. He holds a Ph.D. from UNSW Sydney. His research interests encompass masculinities and men’s health, disasters, disability, ICT and healthcare, international development, and gender.

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