Blog Post by Dr Jasmin Lilian Diab, Director of the Institute for Migration Studies at the School of Arts and Sciences at the Lebanese American University, where she also serves as Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Migration Studies. This post is part of the blog series on feminist theory in refugee law.
Introduction
Researching displaced communities presents a unique set of challenges, particularly when addressing deeply personal and traumatic experiences. Traditional methods often fall short in capturing the complexities of displacement, leaving researchers grappling with ethical dilemmas and the risk of re-traumatizing participants. In these contexts, the stakes are high: participants often come from environments where trust has been eroded, and their experiences of trauma are compounded by systemic inequities, discrimination, and limited access to justice or support systems.
Trauma-informed participatory approaches offer a vital path forward, particularly for displaced women experiencing traumatic events. By fostering environments of safety and collaboration, these methods not only ensure ethical rigor but also place the voices and agency of survivors at the centre of the research process. This is of particular importance given the high stakes when trauma-informed methods are absent, as they help address the lack of awareness among researchers, policymakers, and law-makers about the profound impacts of trauma.
This approach is inherently feminist because it challenges traditional power dynamics in research, prioritizing collaboration and agency over extraction and objectification. As part of the kaleidoscope of feminist methods, trauma-informed approaches resonate with the principles articulated by Gina Heathcote, particularly the emphasis on listening to diverse voices through local customs and narrative methods. For instance, Heathcote and Lucy Kula highlight the importance of local customs in fostering inclusive participation, as explored by Kate Ogg, and Jae Hyun Park emphasizes the narrative method’s empowering potential for refugee women.
By centring the lived experiences and voices of marginalized individuals, trauma-informed participatory approaches align with feminist principles of inclusivity, intersectionality, and equity. Furthermore, they seek to dismantle systemic barriers and amplify the resilience and autonomy of participants, ensuring that their narratives inform not only the research process but also broader advocacy and policy efforts.
Drawing from my work with Syrian and Palestinian refugees, LGBTQI+ displaced individuals, and survivors of GBV and sexual violence within Lebanon’s migrant domestic worker community, this blog explores how trauma-informed participatory methods can transform research practices and contribute to more equitable and impactful outcomes.
Understanding Trauma-Informed Research
Trauma-informed research recognizes that many displaced individuals and marginalized groups, such as refugees, survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), and migrant domestic workers, have endured significant and complex trauma. This approach integrates an awareness of these experiences into every stage of the research process, from design to dissemination. By adopting trauma-informed methods, researchers aim to minimize harm, prevent re-traumatization, and create a supportive and empowering environment for participants.
Guided by five core principles—safety, trustworthiness, collaboration, empowerment, and cultural competence—trauma-informed research ensures that the dignity and agency of participants are upheld at all times:
- Safety: Both physical and emotional safety are prioritized. Researchers take deliberate steps to create environments where participants feel secure and free from judgment. For survivors of GBV or sexual violence, this might mean choosing private, participant-preferred locations for interviews or using anonymous data collection methods to protect their identities.
- Trustworthiness: Building trust is fundamental in trauma-informed research. This involves clear communication about the study’s purpose, the use of data, and participants’ rights, including their right to withdraw at any time. For example, in my work with migrant domestic workers, trust was established through long-term engagement with community leaders and consistent follow-ups on participants’ concerns.
- Collaboration: A participatory ethos ensures that research is not extractive but instead co-created with participants. Displaced individuals and survivors of trauma are viewed as partners rather than subjects, and their insights inform the design and outcomes of the research. In one study, survivors of sexual violence contributed to shaping the questions to reflect their lived realities more accurately.
- Empowerment: Trauma-informed approaches aim to amplify participants’ voices and foster a sense of agency. This involves validating their experiences and providing opportunities for them to influence the research process actively. Empowerment also includes connecting participants with resources and support, such as counseling or legal aid, when necessary.
- Cultural Competence: A deep understanding of cultural, social, and contextual nuances is critical. Researchers must be attuned to participants’ specific backgrounds and avoid imposing assumptions or biases. In Lebanon, this might mean working with interpreters and cultural mediators to navigate the linguistic and cultural complexities of engaging with diverse communities, including Syrian refugees, migrant workers from various countries, and LGBTQI+ individuals.
By prioritizing these principles, trauma-informed research creates a respectful and inclusive framework that acknowledges the profound resilience of participants while addressing their vulnerabilities. This approach not only mitigates harm but also enhances the depth and quality of the data collected, ultimately contributing to more ethical and impactful research outcomes.
Participatory Approaches: Centring the Voices of Displaced Groups
Participatory research redefines the traditional researcher-participant dynamic, shifting away from extractive models toward collaboration and shared agency. In this approach, displaced individuals are not passive subjects of study but active co-creators of knowledge. Their lived experiences and insights are recognized as invaluable data, shaping every phase of the research process—from design to implementation and dissemination. This method fosters mutual respect, enhances the relevance and accuracy of findings, and empowers participants by validating their voices and experiences.
In participatory research, the traditional hierarchy is replaced with a collaborative partnership where participants have the opportunity to:
- Shape Research Design: Participants contribute to defining the focus and scope of the research, ensuring it reflects their priorities and addresses the most pressing issues in their communities.
- Influence Data Collection Methods: Displaced individuals help identify culturally appropriate and accessible ways of gathering information, which can lead to richer and more nuanced findings.
- Review and Validate Findings: By involving participants in the interpretation and review of results, researchers ensure that the outcomes are meaningful and reflective of participants’ realities.
- Lead Dissemination Efforts: Participants play a role in determining how findings are shared, ensuring that dissemination strategies are inclusive and accessible to affected communities.
For example, in our recent work with migrant domestic workers in Lebanon’s displacement shelters, we co-designed focus group discussions with community leaders and survivors of gender-based violence. This participatory process ensured the research was grounded in their lived realities, such as their struggles with inadequate access to sexual and reproductive health services and the challenges of navigating restrictive social norms. Additionally, community leaders facilitated discussions, creating an environment of trust and openness where participants felt empowered to share their stories.
Participatory approaches also enhance cultural sensitivity by integrating participants’ knowledge of their contexts. For instance, while working with LGBTQI+ refugees and IDPs, cultural mediators ensured that discussions on topics such as gender identity and sexual orientation were inclusive and respectful of participants’ specific cultural and social contexts. Similarly, with Syrian women displaced in Lebanon, participatory workshops revealed critical insights into how displacement affects maternal health and informed practical recommendations for humanitarian interventions.
Moreover, participatory research strengthens the advocacy potential of studies by ensuring that findings are grounded in the priorities and needs of those most affected. When participants are involved in crafting and disseminating key messages, the research not only gains credibility but also becomes a powerful tool for influencing policies and practices. For instance, findings from a participatory study on GBV in displacement shelters informed concrete policy recommendations for humanitarian agencies to improve protection measures and service delivery.
In adopting participatory approaches, researchers honor the agency of displaced groups, leveraging their knowledge to create more ethical, relevant, and impactful research. This collaborative ethos is not only transformative for the research process but also for the broader fight for social justice and systemic change.
Ethical Considerations in Trauma-Informed Participatory Research
In contexts of displacement, where participants may face language barriers or fear repercussions, informed consent must go beyond formalities to become a dynamic and iterative process. Researchers need to take the time to clearly explain their goals, ensure participants fully understand the implications of their involvement, and emphasize their right to withdraw at any point without consequence. Cultural sensitivity is equally essential, as researchers must navigate complex cultural dynamics with care and respect. Engaging interpreters and cultural mediators can be invaluable in this regard. For instance, in my study on LGBTQI+ refugees, cultural mediators from a local queer-focused NGO played a critical role in ensuring that discussions on gender identity and sexual orientation were conducted in a manner that was both inclusive and respectful of participants’ specific cultural contexts. Additionally, trauma-informed research requires robust safeguarding measures to protect participants from potential harm. This includes providing access to psychological support for those who may need it and ensuring researchers are trained to recognize signs of distress and respond appropriately. Together, these practices help build a research environment that prioritizes participants’ well-being and dignity.
Lessons Learned from Lebanon’s Displacement Context
In Lebanon, the intersection of armed conflict, economic instability, and systemic inequities significantly amplifies the vulnerabilities faced by displaced groups. My research has highlighted several critical lessons in navigating these complexities. First, intersectionality matters—displacement is far from a monolithic experience, as factors like gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status intersect to shape individuals’ unique challenges. For example, queer Syrian refugees often contend with compounded layers of homophobia and xenophobia, which exacerbate their marginalization. Second, flexibility in research design is crucial in the unpredictable settings of displacement. In our study on shelter conditions, adapting plans to align with participants’ availability and comfort levels was essential, allowing us to maintain ethical standards while respecting their needs. Lastly, empowering participants by engaging them as co-researchers fosters trust and produces richer, more nuanced data. For instance, as part of our ongoing book project, during a workshop with Syrian refugee women, their input significantly reshaped our understanding of how prolonged displacement impacts their sexual and reproductive health, demonstrating the value of participatory approaches.
Concluding Remarks
Researching displaced communities presents unique challenges, especially when addressing the traumatic experiences of refugee women. Trauma-informed participatory approaches create safer spaces for survivors, ensuring ethical rigor while prioritizing their agency and voices. Building on feminist methods such as those highlighted by Gina Heathcote and Lucy Kula, these approaches emphasize listening to diverse voices and incorporating local customs to foster inclusivity. They also address critical gaps in awareness among researchers and policymakers about the impact of trauma, particularly in contexts where patriarchal norms and systemic inequities hinder access to support. By centring lived experiences, these methods challenge traditional power imbalances and amplify marginalized voices.
Trauma-informed research is not just an ethical necessity but a catalyst for tangible advocacy. For instance, insights from work on GBV in displacement shelters have directly informed recommendations to humanitarian agencies, addressing patriarchal norms and enhancing survivor-centred policies. By applying feminist methods, such as narrative approaches that empower refugee women, this research transforms into actionable change. It reinforces the principles of inclusivity, equity, and intersectionality, ensuring that the dignity and resilience of displaced women inform policies and practices aimed at systemic reform.
Further Readings
- Diab, J. L. & Al-Azzeh, D. (2024), “Inclusive Inquiry: A Compassionate Journey in Trauma-Informed Qualitative Research with GBV Survivors from Displaced Communities,” Frontiers in Psychology 15.
- Diab, J. L. & Alpes, J. (2024), “‘We don’t live in the future. We live in the now.’ How Time Intersects with (UN)Realistically Partnering with and for Refugees in Lebanon,” Journal of Diversity and Gender Studies 11(2): 148-158.
- Darouiche, D. (2023), “The Importance of Trauma-Informed Approaches in Research on Displaced and Vulnerable Groups,” Borders and Limitations Blog, Institute for Migration Studies, Lebanese American University.
- Al-Azzeh, D. (2023), “Don’t Second-Victimize Me: Interviewing GBV Survivors from Displaced Communities Using Trauma-Informed Techniques,” Borders and Limitations Blog, Institute for Migration Studies, Lebanese American University.
- Al-Azzeh, D. (2023), “Living in Fear After the “Beast” Is Gone: Navigating GBV, Survival and Trauma in Asylum Settings,” Borders and Limitations Blog, Institute for Migration Studies, Lebanese American University.
The views expressed in this article belong to the author/s and do not necessarily reflect those of the Refugee Law Initiative. We welcome comments and contributions to this blog – please comment below and see here for contribution guidelines.