Feminist revision of oral history methodology for the study of armed conflicts: The case of ETA women

In: Narrative inquiry: a forum for theoretical, empirical, and methodological work on narrative, Band 25, Heft 1, S. 57-69

Abstract

This article sets out presenting the methodological toolbox created for the study of very specific reality: the gathering of oral information in the study of armed conflicts. Taking as a valid reference the oral history technique, we explored new methodological processes that allowed us to reach the lives and stories of the people interviewed more deeply, with a closer approach to their lives, but at the same time respecting and ensuring maximum access and confidentiality. To do this, the oral history methodology was reviewed with the main contributions of feminist epistemology. Thereby, we created ex profeso new methodological processes adapted to study the role of women as violence perpetrators in armed conflicts. Our proposal expands up to 5 different phases with either technical or emotional functions. The validity of this new methodological toolbox has been tested through an extensive research in the armed conflict of the Basque Country (Spain) performing oral histories to 25 women and 10 men.