Livelihoods as relational im/mobilities:exploring the everyday practices of young female sex workers in Ethiopia

Age is now considered alongside other differentiating categories for exploring mobility experiences, yet little work has emerged conceptualising the im/mobilites of marginalized young people living in particularly difficult circumstances. This article therefore, explores the relational im/mobilities of young female sex workers in Ethiopia aged between 14 and 18 years in order to understand how their livelihoods are shaped by the connections betweentheir relations with others, im/mobilities and survival in everyday life. The article draws on detailed narratives and participatory ‘mobility’ mapping with 60 young sex workers in two locations in Ethiopia. Conceptually this article moves beyond sedentary and nomadic conceptions of mobility to what Jensen (2009) terms ‘critical mobility thinking’, where lives do not just happen in static enclaves or nomadic wanderings but are connected through multiple communities of interest and across time and space. Through these processes, ‘everyday’ livelihoods are shaped and experienced. Further, drawing on Massey’s (2005) relational geographical theory, where socio-temporal practices constitute places in a complex web of flows, the article reveals that young sex workers critical im/mobilities are relational: their livelihoods and identities shaped within and between places based on their ability to move, or not. The article reveals that these relational im/mobilities are important for securing work, protection and accessing services, both within and between places and across a variety of sex work livelihoods. The article concludes by demonstrating that consideration of livelihoods as relational and mobile is central for the development of appropriate interventions

Research relationships and responsibilities:‘Doing’ research with ‘vulnerable’ participants: introduction to the special edition

For some decades now, human geography has sought to engage with the narratives of those deemed least powerful in society. This interest in the experiences of those who have traditionally been sidelined from political agendas has been part of move towards an increasingly critical approach to the social sciences, and ultimately as a way of using the academy as a tool for social justice. Researching the experiences of socially, politically and economically marginalised groups of people, is no longer a new endeavour. What is new, however, is the rapidity in the growth of interest of researchers seeking to engage with these populations, and the variety of the toolkit of methods, for research and analysis, available to support this engagement. Whilst this special edition seeks to draw out and explore a variety of novel approaches to research methods and practice, the particularly unique contribution presented by this publication is a candid exploration of the ethical challenges of engaging with populations identified as ‘vulnerable’ as expressed through the discussion of first-hand fieldwork experience.</p

The impact of COVID-19 on older refugees

Older refugees are particularly at risk from COVID-19. WASH services are key to reducing disease transmission for this vulnerable group