As LAM is part of the BDSM, Fetish and Kink community, and celebrates a wide range of sexualities, it is potentially vulnerable to prejudice, stereotypes and discrimination. This research has aimed to protect participants from homophobia and prejudice, by ensuring all data remains anonymous and securely protected. If employers or family were to find out a participant was involved in this community, it may have negative ethical implications. The research has therefore been structured to reduce any risk of ‘outing.

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Ethical considerations for this project have further included anonymity and gaining informed consent. Coding field notes have been highly necessary due to the issue of ‘outing’ participants or placing them in harm. Through research information sheets, consent forms, and verbal discussions, participants were made aware of the objectives of the research and invited to ask any questions prior to participating.  As this is a relatively ‘vulnerable’ group, harm, vulnerability, respect for persons and beneficence has been assessed and considered at each stage of the research. Field notes have been locked digitally via passwords and encryption software, and the research has taken account of the fact that LAM buyers and sellers conceive of vulnerability and harm in various different ways. Within BDSM communities especially, pain and pleasure is much more interconnected. The vernacular concepts specific to the market have therefore been addressed in relation to one's ethical obligations as a researcher. 

 

Finally, this research has accounted for issues of publicity and privacy, both within the offline space of LAM and when conducting online research. It has also retained an awareness of LAM’s own ethical expectations which are listed on their website. The confidentiality and privacy of every participant has been resepcted at all times, and under no circumstances have participants been pressured into involvement.