By Matt Whiteman
Here is a case study based on an experience I had:
You have been working in a rural community for a few months, and today you are coordinating a basic nutritional survey of the area with the help of a few colleagues. Upon approaching one cluster of huts, you smell an unfamiliar smell. You eventually realize that the occupants of the huts must be brewing a potent alcohol, similar to moonshine. As you approach, they stop what they are doing and look in your direction in silence. You have heard of this practice, but this is the first time you have seen it being made. The beverage is popular, though you know its production to be illegal, as it is unregulated and often contaminated with harmful substances.
You introduce yourself and your team and ask them if they have a few moments to answer some questions. They smile at you, agreeing hesitantly. As you sit down, the man you are about to interview offers you a cup of the pungent brew. What should you do? Maybe think it over a bit before I tell you my perspective.
***
Here are two obvious immediate reactions: 1) Of course, I’m a young adventuresome person with nothing to lose – this is the kind of experience I came here for! 2) Of course not – I don’t know what’s in this and I don’t want to go blind.
Neither of these would have been appropriate in my mind.
There was a more implicit message the man was trying to communicate to me. Though these are only my assumptions, here is the situation as I saw it from his standpoint:
- You are a stranger here and I don’t know if I can trust you yet. You’ve just walked in on me doing something illegal (though I don’t know if you care or not). If you drink from this cup, then you will be just as culpable as we are and we can’t get in trouble. I can then trust you and be more open with you, both now and in the future. You will get the data you need for your survey and your work will go smoothly.
- If you don’t drink it, then I will still answer your questions, but I will give you minimal information and remain suspicious of you, and maybe I’ll tell others that you can’t be trusted.
From my perspective:
- This has implications for my professional reputation, as my colleagues are with me and have expectations of me. However, I know that this will likely create a bit of social distance that may have repercussions for my work later on.
- I am comfortable with trying new things, but I am not really comfortable with breaking the law in order to facilitate the work I am doing, even if it would be great to try something new, even though it would make a great story, even if my actions may be fairly harmless.
- I am also a representative of my country and my organization and I can’t really be seen setting a bad example, nor is it acceptable to establish or reinforce a negative stereotype.
- My relationship with this community matters a significant deal, not only to me, but to future cohorts of volunteers who will pick up where I leave off.
Keep in mind that chang’aa is a lone source of income for some families in this area where their land is not suitable for cultivation of crops or animal husbandry. With HIV/AIDS having affected a significant portion of the men of working age, this is one of the only forms of employment that women can hold out of their homes.
I didn’t end up taking the cup. Fortunately, my colleagues, who were members of a neighbouring community, seemed to be able to smooth things over fairly well and I think we saved face just fine, although they spoke a regional language I wasn’t familiar with, so I’ll never know for sure.