COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY WITH THE UNHEARD: PARTICIPATORY NARRATIVE INQUIRY IN SENSITIVE SOCIAL RESEARCH

Abstract

Sensitive social research often requires a disclosure of private behaviors or attitudes, making effective communication and personal interactions with participants crucial. Participatory Narrative Inquiry (PNI) is an approach grounded in language, thought, and action that creates personal interaction for effective communication in social research. This study utilized PNI to explore the lived experiences of rural young women who engage in sex work for survival in the suburbs of Mwanza town, Tanzania. Through a PNI process, the study created a safe space for six young women to tell their stories and redefine themselves, enabling them to discuss taboo issues that they would not have been able to speak about. The study highlights the lack of qualitative research in Tanzania, allowing sex workers' voices to be heard by challenging stereotypes, connotations, and skewed perceptions. This paper concludes that PNI in sensitive research empowers participants by providing an avenue for their voices to be heard and encouraging transformative learning