It may be noted that in “no harm policy” harm has to be defined in a broader sense. It covers not only loss of income or clientele it also covers embarrassment or shame. Imagine that a male investigator is interviewing a female respondent on sexuality, childbirth practices or RTI/STI in an Indian village. Will the respondent feel comfortable? If you are a woman, would you like to be a respondent in such a study? If the answer is no, it means that even if permitted by donors, such a research practice is unethical. Male respondents must be interviewed by males and female respondents by females. However, if the topic of research is poverty or one is collecting data on education and work, topics which have no connection with sexuality, then it may be accepted if male investigator collects data from female subjects.