In reflecting on the Lizot case, we observe that anthropologists, like other human beings, are sexual creatures. Inevitably, sexual attraction and sexual relationships will develop between anthropologists and those they encounter during field work, including members of the populations under study. Every anthropologist is familiar with successful long-term partnerships that began in such relationships, and every anthropologist is equally familiar with cases where such partnerships failed, or where relationships seemed from the beginning to be ill-advised and exploitative. The task force notes that sexual exploitation is not always imposed by the anthropologist on a member of the study population; there are cases in the literature of the opposite type, including violent rape (Moreno in Kulick and Wilson 1995). There are also cases where members of study populations cynically exploit the attractions they hold for an anthropologist to gain access to perceived wealth or privilege. Nonetheless, the task force points out that in most field situations, most of the power in a relationship with a member of the study population will reside with the anthropologist. Given this problem, we believe that sexual relationships with members of study populations should be undertaken only after the most careful reflection on this point, and with full attention to the dignity and autonomy of the potential partner. The contemplation of sexual contact with children or young adolescents should not survive such reflection and attention.

— Allegations of inappropriate sexual relationships with Yanomami by anthropologists [interest reignited via]

The basic model of “human subjects research” that it assumes is one of clinical research, but the intricate and intimate relationships that develop during ethnographic research raise dilemmas that are nearly unthinkable in a clinical encounter – dilemmas like: What if you’re doing research on sexuality and you start sleeping with your informants?

— Protected: Open access materials for teaching research ethics

he announced, “We are a generation that has romanticized self-loathing in the hopes that it will” lead to sex.

— John Darnielle, quoted in “With Beat, Introvert Clears Path to Hope”

With all the talk about how to stimulate it, you’d think that the economy is a giant clitoris.

— Barbara Ehrenreich, in “Clitoral Economics”