Thread by @SUldbjerg

1/9. Recently, my research was mentioned in Parliament(!) as an example of academic activism that threatens research integrity. Ironically, the article in question is an ethical reflection on the relations between research and activism. Therefore, a dissemination thread #dkforsk

2/9. First, the article raises the question of how to negotiate ethics when doing research in a topic, digital sexual assault (DSA), that is politically and emotionally loaded. In other words, how to ensure research integrity when your field is politically debated.

3/9. I argue that when researching a politically loaded topic, experimental methodologies can be used to get beyond the immediate perception of the issue, which can be strongly influenced by dominant discourses, to allow and understand alternative and silenced perspectives.

4/9. Further, I point to how this representation of marginalized perspectives resonates with activist aims and can have real-life political and personal benefits as it helps to nuance a debate on digital sexual assault and allow victims a voice.

5/9. The article goes to lengths discussing the ethical complications of doing activist research, but I finally conclude, that if the situation for victims of sexual violence is to improve, research is needed to fill the gap in our current knowledge on sexual victimhood.

6/9. In short, there is a lack of academic knowledge on DSA victimhood, and this lack of representation has political and personal impacts on victims. Therefore, my research is activist, because representing and understanding victimhood is relevant both to research and politics.

7/9. Ignoring these implications would be ethically wrong and would, more than anything, question the integrity of my research.
The article is available under open-access policies here:
tidsskrift.dk/KKF/article/vi…

8/9. The journal's response to the public criticism can be read here:
tidsskrift.dk/KKF/announceme…

9/9. And if any Danish speakers wish to hear the Parliament debate, it is available here (at 2h16):
ft.dk/aktuelt/webtv/…