Doing Qualitative Interviews with Men of Colour Who Use Family Violence: A Reflexive Narrative Analysis for Social Work Research

Summary Engaging men of colour who use family violence in social work research is essential for informing safe, ethical and culturally responsive interventions. However, such engagement presents social workers with complex ethical and methodological challenges. Drawing on the findings from 10 qualitative interviews with men of colour who use family violence, this article employs feminist, critical race and post-colonial theories to inform a reflexive narrative analysis of the participants’ accounts and the research encounters. Findings Participants in this research used three main narratives to interpret their experiences and construct new meanings, ultimately presenting themselves as non-violent men. Some participants spoke about their recovery journeys, while others expressed feelings of betrayal or outlined their respectability through amplifying their socioeconomic status and personal attributes. Most interestingly, the accounts reveal how men of colour resist, comply with, and position themselves within dominant discourses on gender, race and class in Australia. Application The findings emphasise the critical role of reflexivity for social workers engaging with men who use family violence, highlighting the need for ongoing attention to how power dynamics shape these encounters. By employing reflexive practices, social workers are better equipped to navigate the ethical and methodological complexities involved, ensuring that engagement is conducted safely, ethically and without collusion.