Debates on ethical and respectful research practices in the study of gender-based violence are crucial due to the sensitive nature of the inquiry, the vulnerability of the target population, and ethical considerations related to privacy, confidentiality, and participant agency, especially when investigating intimate partner violence and engaging with survivors. This paper examines a specific aspect of fieldwork challenges: negotiating the identity of a researcher who is an unmarried woman. It explores strategies for managing community and respondent expectations in this context, focusing on the dynamics between the 'front-stage' identity as a professional researcher and the 'backstage' identity as an unmarried, potentially inexperienced woman lacking practical knowledge of conjugal intricacies. The impact of this identity on the data collection process, including both challenges and facilitators, is critically analyzed. Through a review of relevant literature and reflections on fieldwork experiences, this paper presents a nuanced discussion of these issues and offers strategies for overcoming related challenges.