Studying Postmodern Families: A Feminist Analysis of Ethical Tensions in Work and Family Research

Abstract

ࡗ Studying Postmodern Families: A Feminist Analysis of Ethical Tensions in Work and Family ResearchThrough dialogue and reflexivity, feminist researchers aim to create knowledge that is emergent from people in relationship with one another. Reflexivity is a process whereby researchers place themselves and their practices under scrutiny, acknowledging the ethical dilemmas that permeate the research process and impinge on the creation of knowledge. Guided by these tenets, we analyzed the relations among our research practices, our participants, and ourselves to understand and reduce the ethical tensions we encountered in a multimethod research project designed to investigate work and family processes. Our reflective efforts underscore both the active nature of research participants and the importance of the sociopolitical contexts within and around the research process. We make suggestions for more ethical research.

Attitudes on commercialisation and anti‐commercial reactions on gift‐giving occasions in Belgium

“…If satisfaction measures of giving and buying gifts are examined, it is seen that there are different factors in¯uencing Cappelli et al, 2000;McGraw et al, 2000;Spitze and Loscocco, 1999;Janssens, 1997). The increasing participation of women in the labour market during the last few decades is accompanied by a shift in the division of household labour.…”

Mixed Methods Approaches in Family Science Research

“…The remaining 8 studies mixed by connecting the two data sets. When quantitative data were analyzed first, authors connected to the qualitative phase by developing interview questions that followed up on significant quantitative results (e.g., Javo et al, 2003) and by deciding how to select participants for the second phase (e.g., McGraw et al, 2000). When qualitative data were analyzed first, authors connected by developing a questionnaire based on qualitative findings (Miall & March, 2005a) and by identifying variables to be tested from a qualitative model (Richter, 1997).…”

Feminist Research Ethics

“…McGraw, Zvonkovic, and Walker (2000) increased interest in their study of work and family life among Northwest fishing families by adding to their objectives a goal specified by their female participants that could be construed as antifeminist by some. However, both this study and another by Skelton (2001) of female youth in Wales indicate how researchers must prioritize even feminist goals.…”