An ethical quandary that dare not speak its name: Archival privacy and access to queer erotica

Abstract

Concern and even conflict over information privacy and access to personal, sensitive, information owns a lengthy, complex, and disputed history in the information professions. A historical case study, this research explores the ethical tensions between information access for (re)use and information privacy regarding queer archival materials. It engages with small worlds and normative behavior, with codes of ethics, and with issues of power and social justice. Various small worlds' definitions of normative behavior condition and potentially determine their positions on access to perceived sensitive information. Further, information professionals may overlook codes of ethics even when addressing ethical challenges. Finally, the power of information professionals to effect social justice may be overestimated. Implications for practice and directions for future research are suggested.