Maternal Encounters in an (In)Secure Field

This paper examines the dynamics of caregiving, being cared for, and being mothered as a young researcher conducting fieldwork in the highly surveilled and often unsafe environments of refugee camps and settlements in Delhi. Utilizing feminist methodologies, I interrogate how my positionality—particularly my age—shaped interactions with refugee mothers, resulting in unexpected moments where maternal care was directed toward me as the researcher. These encounters challenge conventional boundaries of fieldwork, positioning motherhood as a practice that transcends the mother-child relationship and complicates notions of (in)security and care in precarious contexts. I argue that motherhood, within the framework of displacement, emerges as a site of political significance, reshaping our understanding of vulnerability and power in research. By examining these maternal encounters, I explore how my access to the field, the nature of the data collected, and the conversations I engaged in were influenced by these relational dynamics. I explore how mutual relations of care develop, both supporting and hindering the research process. This work contributes to ongoing debates within International Relations (IR), where ethnographic research remains peripheral, and emotions are often regarded as subjective and fleeting. By foregrounding emotions, this study provides critical insights into the lived experiences of refugee mothers and the complex political landscapes they navigate throughout the research process alongside the researcher.