CareWork revolved around an ethnographic investigation with a targeted, multi-facetted methodology. Grounded in a literature review, and finetuned for the specific settings, this comprised a range of research techniques. I conducted 43 in-depth interviews, of which 30 in Sarajevo, where, in line with the conception of 'care clusters', I interviewed care givers, care receivers, and their family members. Regarding auxiliary research sites, I conducted 13 in-depth interviews with women from BiH who worked as carers in Austria, Germany and Italy. I conducted (non)participant observation on care work in 4 households. As a proxy-method for such direct ethnographic insight I also relied on pre-structured participant diaries from 7 care givers (on activities, experiences and interpretations) and time budget sheets from 6 care givers (listing daily activities). I followed care workers' social media communication and conducted (non)participant observation on a 4-week training course for carers. I attended events related to care work in Sarajevo and in Austria, and conducted 6 expert interviews. To map care related policies and the socio-political context I relied on media reports, strategic documents and civil society activities.
This ethnographic research delivered detailed insight into practices, their embeddedness in social relations and actors' interpretations.
Data analysis and writing started during fieldwork, allowing finetuning of methodology and interviews. I coded interviews and notes thematically and, in dialogue with literature, analysed findings. So far, I have delivered presentations at 9 academic events across Europe and at 2 events aimed at researchers and civil society in Sarajevo. This included organising and leading a dedicated programme on a Film Festival in Sarajevo (5 films with discussions, public lecture, panel discussion) and co-organising and co-convening a two-semester film series in Graz (6 films with discussions). At the request of UNWOMEN BiH, I summarised my findings in a draft policy brief, for the purpose of their collaboration with the relevant ministry. That document I also discussed with civil society actors. The project's Facebook page provides information to researchers, civil society, research participants and policy makers. I made 4 contributions to BiH media.
This dissemination strategy benefited from intensive networking with researchers, activists and artists in Austria, Southeast Europe and beyond, for which my host institution served as a vibrant, resourceful platform. My research also fed into a co-designed and co-taught MA course on SE European Political Economy there.
I have written two scholarly articles on the basis of my research. One is under review with a major peer-reviewed anthropology journal; the other is nearly ready for submission.
