Qualitative Data Analysis: An Introduction

Carol Grbich

Chapter 5 : Feminist Research

Feminist research principles1. that there is inequality in our society constructed along gender

lines - women are subordinate to men in socioeconomic status and decision making power.

2. that current modes of knowledge disadvantage women by devaluing their ways of knowing

3. that highlighting the experiences of women through research and allowing their voices to be heard may go some way to making inequalities more widely recognised

4. that transformation of society through the empowerment and emancipation of women are desirable outcomes.

The researcher and the researchedRelationship guidelines:

non-exploitative relationships between you and those you are researching

exposure of your position, your personal biography, your emotions and values and how these impact on data gathering, analytical and interpretative phases

the voices of the researched should be heard in their own words and ownership of narratives should be shared between you and these people in an egalitarian manner

Empowerment of participants

Ways of managing empowerment:

Recognise the value driven nature of research

Practice reflexivity

Participants drive the research agenda

Focus on improvement of participant’s lives as the major outcome

Include a diversity of participants including ‘elites’

Use language which is meaningful to participants

Contextualise data so readers can make their own judgments

Present ways in which women may improve their situation.

(Adapted from Wadsworth 2001:4-5)

Feminist data analysis

Use feminist theoretical frames

Focus on an extensive display of participants’ voices

Joint ownership of data interpretation

Memory WorkThe researcher is also a participant

Involves the tracing of memories and their construction from each co-researcher’s perspective

The group takes the collective memories and seeks to understand how each memory as come to be constructed in this particular way and how interaction within the wider society has created and reinforced oppression.

Theoretical constructs are applied to the memories by the researcher

Criticisms of memory work Using friends/close acquaintances to form the group

is not ideal

Women with no background nor interest in academic theory may become subjects and/or experience minimal emancipation or transformation

The group may tend to indulge in primitive psychotherapeutics

Marxist frameworks emphasise action as conformity rather than resistance

Limitations of Memory work

Emancipation is not always the outcome

Theoretical perspectives are not always meaningful to participants

How are differences of opinion to be managed in the group process?

Is it possible to share ownership with a researcher who will ultimately gain through publishing the work?

In terms of analysis and final publication, what happens to the personal material from the first and second stages?

Whose voices are being silenced when issues of academic credibility are important?

What happens to notions of emancipation and transformation when the groups are more interested in sharing than theorising their experiences (Onyx and Small 2001)