Learning critical feminist research: A brief introduction to feminist epistemologies and methodologies

Abstract

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.

Navigating Open Science as Early Career Feminist Researchers

“…This leads to ongoing grapples of power as conservative academics attempt to maintain the status quo and silence or minimise the efforts of younger, more critical feminist research. Feminist epistemology is often regarded as less "scientific" as other, more mainstream or positivist modes of research epistemology is often regarded as less "scientific" as other, more mainstream or positivist modes of research Among other reasons, this may be Among other reasons, this may be due to the potentially disruptive or "socially transformative" nature of feminist voices in psychology (Flick, 2015;Wigginton & LaFrance, 2019). Indeed, in many ways, in many ways, feminist psychologists must fight to be heard (Wilkinson, 1996(Wilkinson, , 1997.…”

The Expertise Paradox: Opportunities and Challenges of a Public Psychology Framework

“…A feminist approach to psychological knowledge and research is predominantly concerned with social justice and equality. Feminist psychology is firmly situated in an activist, practical, and political agenda (Stainton-Rogers, forthcoming); in this way, feminist psychology is often critical (Wigginton & Lafrance, 2019), challenging (Unger, 1979), and socially transformative (Flick, 2004). Importantly, therefore, the notion of an experientially afforded expertise is both recognised and celebrated in research methodologies that stem from a feminist epistemology (e.g.…”

Doing critical feminist research: A Feminism & Psychology reader

“…Like many of us in/from psychology, I (Britta) was educated within an empiricist epistemology (see Wigginton & Lafrance, 2019 for a description of this approach). My first introduction to reflexivity was during my dissertation research during which I was studying women's experiences of smoking during pregnancy.…”

“…The concept of intersectionality was originally developed by African American feminists Kimberle´Crenshaw, bell hooks, and Patricia Hill Collins, in response to feminist work in which 'woman' was treated as a homogenous category (see discussion on Feminist Standpoint Theory in Wigginton & Lafrance, 2019). Such work, they showed, served to erase from view the multidimensionality of positions of difference and oppression including race, class, (dis)abililty, and sexuality.…”