ANTHMETHGRP3-2425-XINYI-HU

[Last modified: December, 6 2024 03:42 AM]

In this week’s workshop, we focused on the ethical issues surrounding indigenous identity and disempowerment, particularly examining the challenges faced by indigenous migrants in the slums of São Paulo, Brazil. These challenges include the loss of their homeland leading to a forced diaspora, persistent poverty, and violent conflicts. Our exploration centered on how these issues are addressed through indigenous migrants’ territorial struggles and how these migrants perceive their relationship with the state, especially in the context of the anti-human rights stance of the Bolsonaro government. The project also incorporates interviews with activists and participation in meetings held by indigenous associations to gain deeper insights.

The ethical issues discussed in this context were primarily divided into three parts:

1.Exploitation of Vulnerable Groups:

Indigenous groups are often politically and socially marginalized, which makes them vulnerable in research settings. When researchers ask questions, there is a significant risk of exploiting their vulnerabilities due to inherent biases or assumptions. This exploitation can stem from researchers perceiving indigenous participants as less powerful or assuming they have fewer options to refuse or withdraw from the study. While the risk level here is moderate, the imbalance of power between researchers and participants may hinder the latter’s ability to fully consent or opt out, raising ethical concerns about autonomy and respect for participants’ rights.

2.Cultural Sensitivity:

Due to information gaps and a lack of deep understanding of indigenous cultures, researchers may inadvertently misinterpret or misrepresent indigenous practices and beliefs. This lack of cultural sensitivity not only risks introducing bias into the study but also threatens the trust between researchers and indigenous communities. While the level of risk is moderate, the consequences can undermine the validity of the research findings and damage long-term relationships with the population being studied.

3.Confidentiality and Privacy with Political Consequences:

The collection of life histories and personal opinions during the study poses significant risks, particularly in politically sensitive contexts. Participants’ personal experiences and viewpoints may inadvertently become public, exposing them to potential backlash, discrimination, or harm. Given the politically charged environment in Brazil, especially under Bolsonaro’s government, the risks associated with confidentiality breaches are high. Protecting participants’ privacy is paramount to ensuring their safety and maintaining ethical standards.

Addressing these ethical concerns requires careful planning, sensitivity, and adherence to ethical guidelines. Researchers must be vigilant in respecting participants’ rights, fostering trust, and minimizing risks throughout the study.

[Last modified: December, 5 2024 11:45 PM]

For the multi-modal exercise, my classmates and I visited a park near the school, a quiet spot filled with the beauty of autumn. The ground was covered with fallen leaves, creating a golden carpet that crunched softly under our feet as we walked. The park was peaceful yet lively, with the crisp sound of the wind rustling through the trees. Among the branches, we spotted a squirrel darting up and down, its movements quick and playful, adding a touch of life to the stillness of the season. Near the center of the park stood a quaint coffee shop, its warm aroma inviting us in. We bought coffee and sipped it as we walked, the heat from the cups warming our hands against the chilly air.

As we strolled, I noticed the variety of people enjoying the park. Some were students, gathered in small groups, enthusiastically discussing academic problems, their voices blending with the sound of the wind and distant city noise. Others sat alone on benches, engrossed in books, finding solace in the quiet surroundings. These solitary figures seemed lost in their own world, enjoying a rare moment of peace amidst their daily routines. The atmosphere of the park was a harmonious blend of solitude and community, where people coexisted in their own unique ways of enjoying the space.

Reflecting on the exercise, I found that video and photography were particularly effective modes for capturing the experience. Videos, for instance, can record the sound of the wind, the rustling of the leaves, and even the movement of the squirrel, preserving the real-time essence of the scene. Photos, on the other hand, freeze a moment, highlighting details like the interplay of light and shadow or the vibrant colors of autumn leaves. Writing, however, offers a different kind of power. It leaves room for imagination and personal interpretation. For example, while you can’t smell the aroma of coffee or the earthy scent of fallen leaves through a photo or video, writing can evoke those sensory experiences by drawing on vivid descriptions and associations. Each mode of expression has its strengths, and together, they provide a more comprehensive way to document and relive the moment.

[Last modified: December, 5 2024 07:06 PM]

When I take the subway to school by myself, I always wear headphones with loud music playing. It’s my way of retreating into my own world amidst the noise and motion of the city. On a recent trip home, I was listening to Taylor Swift’s Peace. The soft, melancholic melody seemed to align perfectly with my mood, bringing an overwhelming sense of calm. For a moment, it felt like I was the only one left in the world, even as I sat among the crowd on the train.

I glanced around and saw a little girl chatting animatedly with her mother. Her excitement reminded me of my childhood in China, where I would often take public transportation with my family. Memories of those moments flooded back—holding my parents’ hands, feeling the security of their presence. I began to wonder what they were doing now. Were they thinking of me as much as I was missing them? The thought brought a pang of longing, a reminder of the distance that time and geography had placed between us.

As the train pulled into Baker Street, a tall, elegant girl stepped onto the carriage. She carried herself with quiet confidence, and as she passed by, I caught the scent of her perfume. It was familiar—my friend had worn this fragrance before. It stirred memories of us shopping together at Bond Street, laughing as we tried on perfumes, finding the perfect one for her. Those moments of lighthearted joy felt so vivid that I smiled involuntarily. Happy times like those seem fleeting, yet they never fade with time. They linger in my mind, like warm pockets of energy that can lift my spirits whenever I think of them.

The train sped forward, and when the station announcement called for Wembley Park, I knew it was time to leave. As I moved through the crowd, the warmth of the carriage clung to me, and stepping outside felt like entering another world. The cold wind brushed my face and lifted my hair, cutting through the lingering coziness. With my headphones still on, the music enveloped me, amplifying a sense of solitude. I felt both sad and beautiful in that moment, as though I were the protagonist in a melancholic film. The air was so cold it seemed to freeze around me, tightening my chest and making it hard to breathe.

Just then, as I turned the corner, the scent of freshly baked bread wafted from the bakery downstairs. It was warm and sweet, wrapping around me like an invisible blanket. The aroma thawed the frozen air and pulled me out of my thoughts, making me smile without even realizing it. Life’s small, fleeting pleasures always have a way of grounding me, reminding me of the comforts waiting just ahead. I began to anticipate going home—a warm room, a hot bath, and maybe a slice of cake or a bowl of steaming vegetable soup to nourish me. The thought filled me with a quiet, simple joy, a reminder that even amidst the bittersweet moments of life, warmth and happiness are always within reach.

[Last modified: December, 5 2024 06:17 PM]

My pilot research project explores how family relationships affect intimacy, and the political dimension is subtle but important. It is clear that family structure and individual behavioral motivation are rooted in social context and cultural norms. For example, the concept of what is “family” or “intimate relationship” is influenced by social values, which may vary from culture to culture and are often regulated by laws, such as those governing marriage, divorce, and parental rights. It is also closely related to personal experience. The group I studied is Chinese international students, in this group, each person’s view of intimate relationship shows great individual differences. The native family culture of Chinese students comes from the traditional East Asian culture, and because of studying abroad, they are also influenced by Western countries. So I’m really interested in the influence of social culture on the individual’s sense of autonomy, and how each person makes different self-choices and self-exploration in this situation.

As a researcher, my position has a profound interaction with these social cultures. Coming from an East Asian-related background, for example, with strong family values, I realize that my views may influence how I ask questions or interpret findings. For example, I may unconsciously emphasize the influence of family over other factors such as socioeconomic conditions or personal agency. To address this, I have been reflecting and trying to explain the diversity of family experiences and their different effects on intimate relationships. This includes critically examining how my own biases and assumptions affect the research process.

The intimate relationship in East Asian culture is more of a single dimension, such as loyalty and exclusivity. This seems to have a clear value of correct distinction, so that when I understand the specific behavior of some people, I will inevitably have some prejudices or think that other people’s behavior is wrong.

To mitigate these risks, my approach includes qualitative interviews to capture diverse experiences and perspectives, ensure inclusion and reduce bias. In addition, I plan to engage with stakeholders, such as family counselors or advocacy groups, to ensure that the findings are in context and interpreted responsibly. This approach ensures that my research not only contributes to academic understanding, but also addresses an ethical and thoughtful political dimension.

[Last modified: October, 31 2024 01:45 AM]

While trying to make on-the-spot notes, I communicated with people in the scene in terms of observation and participation, and chose a suitable position to sit there and observe the passing pedestrians. Hanging out at the supermarket, it made me connect with family. Because the supermarket provides a life scene that is closely related to family life. And I observed some elderly people with children wandering in the supermarket, which reminded me of the scene when my grandmother took me to the supermarket to buy food when I was a child.
My team members used the form of photos. One team member mentioned that she thought that the photos taken on the scene could record the current situation, print them out later, and annotate the contents of the photos could save time and help recall the scene at that time. Another member uses a map to mark places. I use mind mapping to record the main points. I think our approaches have different priorities. The photo approach is more emotional and life-like, the mind map and map approach is more logical, and maybe combining our approach is a good way to do it.
At the same time, some of our recording methods are biased towards the overall structured narrative, and some are biased towards the description of details.
In the scenarios I documented, social was the key word. I sat in the cafe and observed the neighborhood and the interaction of people. These include the elderly and children, interactions of a kinship nature, and scenes of the elderly bringing children to play with other children, which builds a social scene. At the same time, I also observed that there were some life scenes in the coffee shop, some students were discussing projects, and social relationships were built among them. At the same time, I observe that some of the content they are discussing is on instagram or tiktok, which turns offline social networking into online social extension. At the same time, I have observed that some people working in coffee shops are using online meeting functions, which is also an extension of offline and online networking. So I made social my scene keyword. Different memories help us recall the scene more often.
My observation site was Gail’s cafe. The weather was cloudy, so many people wore thick coats or chose to sit in the cafe.

[Last modified: October, 25 2024 01:21 AM]

Due to some events during this period, I am considering changing my research topic to “Intimate relationships and family of Origin—a case study of Chinese students at UCL.” This topic can help me examine myself and understand the motivations behind people’s behavior.

This topic has also been widely discussed by my classmates and friends. In Chinese culture, people are closely related, so family relationships have a profound impact on Chinese students. As Chinese students who study abroad and accept Western ideas, on the one hand, they accept the different cognition of the intimate relationship from the Western society, and on the other hand, they retain the ideological understanding of traditional Chinese culture. Bowen’s family systems theory states that an individual’s emotional patterns are profoundly influenced by their family-of-origin interactions and that these patterns influence relationships with others in adulthood, including romantic and intimate relationships. For international students, how to deal with the close relationship in a cross-cultural environment and the connection with the family of origin after leaving the family of origin has become an important psychological adaptation challenge.

This article will explore:
• Explore the ways in which UCL Chinese students deal with intimate relationships in a cross-cultural environment.
• Analyze the influence of the education model and values of the family of origin on their intimate relationship.
• Assess cultural conflict in intimate relationships and its impact on mental health

Crowd:
The subjects of the study are Chinese international students studying undergraduate or postgraduate courses at UCL.

Survey method:
Interviews and surveys mainly focus on the intimate relationship experience of overseas students, the influence of family of origin and the adaptation strategies in the cross-cultural environment.

[Last modified: October, 17 2024 10:51 PM]

1. Research Title:

“An Observational Study of Social Media Usage by Chinese Female Students in London: A Focus on Xiaohongshu Platform in Cafés and Classrooms”

2. Research Objectives:

• To observe how the environment (café vs. classroom) influences the way Chinese female students interact with social media.
• To assess how frequently and in what context these students engage with Xiaohongshu during casual life situation.
• To investigate the role of social media as a form of self-expression within different social environments and how it relates to identity negotiation in a foreign cultural context.

3. Research Locations:

• Café Observation: Choose popular coffee shops around university campuses where Chinese students typically gather for socializing or individual study. It is easy to find the Chinese female students. They always stay in this environment to chat with each other.
• Classroom Observation: In a lecture or classroom setting, observe moments when students check their phones and see if they use social media apps like Xiaohongshu during this time. Explore the role of academic stress or cultural adaptation in these digital habits.

[Last modified: October, 6 2024 07:31 PM]

Pilot research topic:

Self-expression on social media of Chinese female students studying in London——take the small red book platform as an example.

Research background：

There is a growing trend of Chinese students studying abroad in Western countries, especially in London. Their ideas are rooted in the influence of traditional East Asian culture and the baptism of Western ideas, so their self-expression is special. With the rise of social media as a key platform for self-expression and identity construction in the past two years, information in the digital space not only helps Chinese students reshape their culture and personal identity in a cross-cultural environment, but also provides a platform for them to show and express themselves. Xiao Hong Book is a social media platform similar to instagram in China, which is very popular among Chinese young people. Overseas life and cultural differences are the hot topics discussed in the discussion. In the discussion of Chinese female students, feminism and female self-expression have to some extent broken away from the traditional Asian discourse system and become the hot topics discussed.

Research objectives:

To investigate how female Chinese students in London use social media to express themselves. Whether their self-expression has undergone a shift, and how Chinese and Western cultural and social expectations have influenced the self-presentation of Chinese female students in London. Whether digital platform tools are used by them as tools for identity negotiation and cross-cultural adaptation.

Research method：

Content Analysis: Analyzes posts and comments by female users on social media such as Xiaohongshu, especially those about body, gender identity and social expectations.

Interviews: In-depth interviews with female users, who are studying in London, active on social media platforms to understand their views on self-presentation, gender representation, and public feedback.

Case studies: do some interview, Select a few representative social media accounts and analyze in depth how their content creation reflects or challenges feminism and gender roles.

Ethical Considerations:

Informed Consent: Due to the private nature of the content and opinions of social media accounts, the informed consent of the respondents was sought before the research began.

Anonymity and Confidentiality: Keep participants’ identities and social media profiles anonymous to protect privacy.

Cultural Sensitivity: Be mindful of cultural values and differences when discussing issues like gender roles and self-expression.

Expected Outcomes

Insights into how Chinese female students navigate the intersection of cultural identity and gender expectations through social media.

Understanding of how studying abroad in London shapes their digital self-presentation and identity construction.

[Last modified: October, 1 2024 06:14 PM]

Welcome to your brand new blog at Reflect – University College London.

To get started, simply log in, edit or delete this post and check out all the other options available to you.

Please see the Reflect Blogging Resource for more information, policies, and how to guides:
https://wiki.ucl.ac.uk/x/KYODBQ