What kind of ‘subject’ is a ‘research subject’?
A subject acts, makes decisions, and exercises agency. A subject holds power. In contrast, an object remains passive, observed, and analyzed from the outside.
Traditional academia has long maintained a clear distinction between the researcher and the research subject, positioning objective, external observation as the foundation of legitimate knowledge. In the social sciences, this has often meant that lived experiences are only considered valid when interpreted by an external authority. Yet, this framework reinforces knowledge hierarchies that mirror broader societal inequalities.
Participatory Action Research (PAR) offers a transformative approach to research.
For us at Nomada Association, being part of this process is incredibly meaningful and enriching. Our involvement in the DignityFIRM project, alongside incredible organizations like Mujeres Supervivientes in Spain and Here to Support in the Netherlands, allows us to amplify the voices of undocumented individuals in research and actively shape changes that can drive meaningful impact in migration policy.
DignityFIRM aims to deepen our understanding and improve policies related to two urgent realities facing Europe today. The first concerns the labor shortages in critical sectors of our food supply chain, which have become more evident since the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Migrant workers play a pivotal role in food production and distribution but are often denied safe and dignified working conditions. The second reality is the EU’s commitment to protecting the dignity of all individuals, including migrant workers in the Farm to Fork (F2F) labor market who are not authorized to stay within the EU.
We are proud to be part of a project that is challenging these realities and working towards systemic change.
Learn more from Imanol Legarda Díaz-Aguado on why PAR is vital in his blog post.
“From Being Studied to Leading Change”.
