Feminist Methods of Research

1
Feminist Methods of Research

• Feminist thinkers have changed
• Theory about oppression, power, inequality
• Connection between scholarship and activism
• Challenged our assumptions about research and the
  creation of knowledge
• Questions asked
• Interpretations
• Use of research
• Written text

2
Feminist Research- Terms

• Connection of theory and methods
• Epistemology- theory of knowledge
• (roles, ethics, interpretation, assumptions)
• Methodology- theory and analysis of how research
  should proceed
• Methods- techniques for gathering data

3
Change in how we conceptualize research (begins
in 1970s)

• Modern/positivist
• Measurement, prediction
• Deduction- general to specific (based on laws,
  rules
• Truth, verifiable reality
• Objectivity of researcher

• Postmodern/ Postpositivist
• Experience, description
• Induction (specific to general)
• Multiple truths of experience
• Subjectivity of researcher

4
Feminist Research

• Part of the change towards postmodern/postpositivi
  st wave of research in 1970s
• Starting point
• Neglect of womens perspectives and experiences
  in production of knowledge
• Making women central to research as researchers
  and as subjects

5
Feminist Research

• Ask research questions from a womans point of
  view
• Challenging the universality of scientific fact
  or truth
• Challenging sexism, racism, class, and
  colonialism in research process
• Representing diversity
• Breaking down power imbalance between researcher
  and researched (self-reflexive)
• Emancipatory and liberatory goals
• Social change