This article reports on the ways in which feminism has led to and influenced the unfolding of our three separate doctoral research journeys. In writing about this choice, we suggest that the epistemology of feminism is compatible with qualitative methods, as well as with the social work discipline, within which we all practice. The article reports on the impact of feminism on this journey from the perspective of three different stages of doctoral research, beginning, middle, and ending.
This article serves as a welcoming introduction to feminist epistemologies and methodologies, written to accompany (and intended to be read prior to) the Virtual Special Issue on 'Doing Critical Feminist Research'. In recalling our own respective journeys into the exciting field of feminist research, we invite new readers in appreciating the steep learning curve out of conventional science. This article begins by sketching out the emergence of feminist scholarship – focusing particularly on the discipline of psychology – to show readers how and why feminist scholars sought to depart from conventional science. In doing so, we explain the emergence of three main ways of doing and thinking about research (i.e. epistemologies): feminist empiricism, standpoint theory, and the various 'turn to language' movements (social constructionism, constructivism, postmodernism, poststructuralism). We then connect the dots between feminist epistemologies, methodologies and methods. We close by offering suggestions to guide the readers in using the Virtual Special Issue on their respective research journeys.
This article represents an attempt to uncover a suitable method of sociological enquiry, which can best understand and explore the experiences of the older, working class women of my research. Noting the historical, frustrating sense of absence of women in dominant knowledge claims (for example Beauvoir, 1997; Woolf, 1993; Rowbotham, 1973), the article seeks to complement post‐modern critiques of the autonomy of reason with feminist accounts of knowledge or "epistemologies". The article documents the dislocation between my own epistemological assumptions and the women's ways of knowing, and their attempts to defend themselves against my middle class interpretations of their working class lives. It offers a reflexive account of my own ethnographic research experiences, in order to help resolve some of the practical dilemmas faced by feminist researchers (Ribbens and Edwards, 1988). The article highlights some of the pains and pleasures of the feminist research experience.
Partizipative Forschung kann als ergiebiger Forschungsstil im Kontext sozialer Ungleichheit verstanden werden. Wie insbesondere an Debatten aus dem Bereich der feministischen Wissenschaftstheorie deutlich wird, ist der Einbezug Angehöriger marginalisierter Gruppen als Co-Forschende nicht nur forschungsethisch, sondern auch epistemologisch bedeutsam, wirft jedoch auch unterschiedliche Probleme auf, so etwa die Forschungshierarchie und damit verbundene Subjektpositionen. Unter Bezugnahme auf den Begriff der Anerkennung werden die Ansprüche partizipativ Forschender in Zusammenhang mit feministischen Kritikpunkten diskutiert. Anerkennung wird dabei nicht nur als wertschätzende Haltung gefasst, sondern als adressierender, performativer Sprechakt, der mit der Vergabe legitimer Sprecher*innenpositionen einhergeht. Die Überlegungen werden an Reflecting Teams (ANDERSEN 2011 [1991]) veranschaulicht, die im Kontext des Forschungsprojekts "Kooperation für Inklusion in Bildungsübergängen" als partizipative Methode eingeführt wurden. In pointierter Weise zeigen wir auf methodologischer und methodischer Ebene fruchtbare Wechselwirkungen zwischen feministischer Epistemologie und partizipativer Forschung vermittels des Anerkennungsbegriffes auf.
In this manuscript, contributions and reflections are presented about how cartography and feminist epistemologies, in articulation, are powerful and relevant for research with families and parenting. Some decisions and methodological approaches made in the doctoral thesis Family fictions, adolescents between care and transits, carried out during the years 2015 to 2019, in Uruguay are specified. In the first place, the theoretical and epistemological framework that supports the ethical and political positioning of the researchers and the research-intervention practices carried out is raised. Next, some points are marked where the epistemic-theoretical connections between cartography and feminist epistemologies were emerging in research practice. Namely, in the reconstruction of the problem-object of research, in the choice of the participants' point of view and in the analysis process where the emphasis is placed on the experience of encountering adolescents and the emergence of analyzers that destabilize and catalyze the research processes in families and parenting. ; En este manuscrito se presentan aportes y reflexiones acerca de cómo la cartografía y las epistemologías feministas, en articulación, son potentes y resultan pertinentes para la investigación con familias y parentalidades. Se puntualizan algunas decisiones y abordajes metodológicos realizados en la tesis doctoral Ficciones de familias, adolescentes entre cuidados y tránsitos, realizada durante los años 2015 a 2019, en Uruguay. En primer lugar se deja planteado el entramado teórico y epistemológico que da soporte al posicionamiento ético y político de las investigadoras y a las prácticas de investigación-intervención realizadas. A continuación, se marcan algunos puntos donde las conexiones epistémico-teóricas entre cartografía y epistemologías feministas fueron emergiendo en la práctica de investigación. A saber, en la reconstrucción del problema-objeto de investigación, en la elección del punto de vista de los participantes y en el proceso de análisis donde el énfasis se ubica en la experiencia de encuentro con los adolescentes y la emergencia de analizadores que desestabilizan y catalizan los procesos de investigación en familias y parentalidades. ; Neste texto discutimos acerca de como a cartografia e as epistemologias feministas, articuladas, são potentes e apropriadas para pesquisas com famílias e parentalidades. Pontuamos algumas decisões e abordagens metodológicas realizadas na tese de doutorado Ficciones de familias, adolescentes entre cuidados y tránsitos, realizada durante os anos 2015 a 2019, no Uruguai. Em primeiro lugar, apresenta-se a trama teórica e epistemológica que dá suporte ao posicionamento ético e político das investigadoras e as práticas de pesquisa-intervenção realizadas. Na sequência, marcamos alguns pontos de conexão epistemológicos e teóricos entre a cartografia e as epistemologias feministas que foram emergindo durante a pesquisa. Quais sejam, a reconstrução do problema de pesquisa, a eleição do ponto de vista dos e das participantes e o processo de análise, cuja ênfase está na experiência de encontro com os e as adolescentes e a emergência de analisadores que desestabilizam e catalisam os processos de pesquisa sobre famílias e parentalidades.
A feminist turn in philosophy -- Oppression and resistance -- Sex and gender -- Sexualities -- Race and racism -- Postcolonial and transnational feminisms -- Feminist ethical theory -- Feminist political philosophies -- Feminist epistemologies -- Feminist ontologies
