Feminist Methodology: Challenges and Choices

by Caroline Ramazanoglu, Janet Holland

`An accessible, clearly explained review of difficult concepts within this arena as well as relevant debates. Its strengths are in outlining possible considerations that need to be taken into account when making methodological choices. It also clearly explains how these choices impact knowledge production. This book would undoubtedly be of considerable use to anyone seeking to understand and get to grips with feminist methodological issues′ - Feminism and Psychology Who would be a feminist now? Contemporary ′political realism′ suggests that the essentials of the battle have already been won, and the current generation of women entering University is used to seeing feminism presented as ′old fashioned′, ′extreme′ and ′unrealistic′. Challenging such assumptions, this important new book argues for the value of empirical investigations of gendered life, and brings together the theoretical, political and practical aspects of feminist methodology. Feminist Methodology - demonstrates how feminist approaches to methodology engage with debates in western philosophy to raise critical questions about knowledge production - shows that feminist methodology has a distinctive place in social research - guides the reader through the terrain of feminist methodology and clarifies how feminists can claim knowledge of gendered social existence - connects abstract issues of theory with issues in fieldwork practice. This timely and accessible book will be an essential resource for students in women′s studies, gender studies, sociology, cultural studies, social anthropology and feminist psychology.

Genres: Feminism, Nonfiction, Gender Studies

196 pages, Paperback

First published January 28, 2001

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for a research methods seminar required for my Women and Gender Studies major. Having taken sociology courses as well as gender studies courses with sociology professors, the content of the book is pretty boiler-plate Feminist Methods of Social Science Research 101. If you're unfamiliar with doing feminist research, it's accessible and clear. They don't become bogged down by theory, they simplify the numerous strains of feminist thought into digestible--if not deceptively discrete--categories, and they outline some good guiding points for conducting ethical feminist research. I generally recommend an inquiry into feminist methodology to anybody doing research because it's not just about studying ladies or whatever; it's a noble pursuit into doing better science that acknowledges power and delineates the implicit assumptions of objectivity being inscrutable. Worth a read for novices.

[Crystal Belle · Rating 1 out of 5]

i really wanted to like this book, really i did, but, i just couldn't. i felt like many of the claims were highly scientific and contrary to the very notion of feminist methodology. furthermore, the writing just put me to sleep...zzzzzzzz