Volunteers needed for exciting research project

banshcat

Hello,

Volunteers are required for a “Photovoice” research project looking at the experiences of LGBTQ young people (aged 16-24) in Ireland. The project involves giving young people disposable cameras with which they can photograph their everyday lives. The aim is to identify and understand the strengths possessed and challenges faced by LGBTQ youth in Ireland. Findings will inform policy makers and others in a position to bring about social change. The research is being undertaken at the Department of Social Sciences, Dublin Institute of Technology. Further information is available at http://lgbtresearch.dit.ie . If you would like to participate please email lgbtresearch@dit.ie . The project is scheduled to take place in June-July 2008. Please participate!
Thanks!

Cathy

TonythePony

So they have to take photos of gay related events in their daily lives...Can you tell us more about this. Are you worried that people might view it as slightly contrived as photography is the medium?

banshcat

I appreciate your concern. This research is exploring how young lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning people experience stigma, prejudice and discrimination due to their sexual orientation or transgender identity; how they cope with these experiences; and how these experiences impact on their lives. The project is part of a larger study titled ‘Minority Stress and Health: Implications for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Young People’. As I’m sure you are aware there is a huge lack of research with LGBTQ people in ROI and this project is addressing only one of a huge variety of issues that need to be researched.

The Photovoice project hopes to gain an understanding of both the strengths and the challenges faced by LGBTQ young people in Ireland today. Being a ‘Photovoice’ project means that that the young people taking part will take photographs, tell stories and identify the issues that are important to them. Participants will not be asked to take pictures of “gay-related events”. Volunteers will take part in a workshop which will introduce the project, its goals and the research questions. Participants will then take photographs of their everyday lives in response to the research questions. One-to-one discussion and group discussion of the images will take place and through this discussion participants will generate themes in response to the research questions. These themes will be the findings of the research. The photographs will be exhibited for policy makers, community leaders, and the general public to view. In this way LGBTQ youth can voice the strengths they possess and challenges they face, and society can view life through the eyes of this group of young people.

There are a number of stages involved in the project. To find out more about what is involved, please visit http://lgbtresearch.dit.ie/PhaseTwo.htm or email me at lgbtresearch@dit.ie. If you would like to know more about the Photovoice method, please visit www.photovoice.com. Photovoice projects been conducted around the world to address a variety of social issues including homelessness, oppression, violence prevention, mental health, and HIV/AIDS prevention. Photovoice projects enable participants to raise awareness of the issues they face, to advocate for their rights and to exchange information.

Hope this helps!

dory

Sounds interesting. One question though, are the photo meant to be staged or what?
Cause like, no one whips out a camera when someone's hurling abuse at them.

banshcat

The photos can be of absolutely anything that the photographer wants - staged or spontaneous. The important thing is that it is meaningful to them. They can be about good things or bad things, pleasant or unpleasant etc - its really up to the individual. There are also safely guidelines to follow.