Synthesizing Feminist and Critical Realist Approaches to Housing Studies

Abstract

This paper seeks to make a contribution to debate on the epistemological base of housing studies. I argue that there are benefits from seeking an approach that combines key features of critical realist and standpoint feminist positions. Debate in housing studies' cognate disciplines suggests that these theoretical stances are not inconsistent and I find principles for their being used in concert. The paper shows how those principles are taken forward in parts of the literature. I identify the extent of exposure of housing studies to critical realist and feminist meta-theoretical debate and suggest the analytical implications of a feminist realist approach.

Integrating critical realist and feminist methodologies: ethical and analytical dilemmas

“…Satsangi (2013) suggests that since the mid-1980s and despite their differences, feminist approaches have tended to have either an explicit or implicit endorsement of methodological assumptions characteristic of the broadly interpretivist realm. These approaches share a number of general ontological assumptions including the belief that there is no one objective reality, nor fundamental truth, but multiple realities that are locally and culturally specific (contingent and non-generalisable) and can be altered by the knower (Denzin & Lincoln, 2000).…”

“…This raises questions about how we do data analysis and, in turn, what constitutes knowledge. Tackling these kinds of questions has been challenging given that critical realist literature has primarily been occupied with largely abstract philosophical discussions and epistemological debates (Satsangi, 2013), and there has been less focus on how to actually carry out empirical research. This paper seeks to explore the practicalities of conducting empirical research underpinned by critical realist philosophy.…”

“…Likewise, there are some implicit if not overt realist themes of argument made by some standpoint feminists (Satsangi, 2013). What critical realism does is put issues of validity, reliability and truthfulness in the foreground and provides a firm and coherent philosophical foundation on which to make methodological choices and establish truth claims.…”

Rekindling Community Education in Neoliberal Times

“…She also proposes their fusion through a belief that knowledge is power-laden and therefore exists within a context of inequality, that the un-faltering relativism of pure constructivism should be rejected, and finally, that we undermine perceptions of a distance between the researcher and those to be passive researched. Satsangi (2013) argues that feminist realism brings epistemological advantages over positivism and intepretivism whilst also enabling us to accept the moral and political value of standpoint feminism. Whilst accepting many tenets of Satsangi's argument, Parr (2015) draws from her own experiences as a feminist researcher to draw out specific tensions between feminist epistemology and critical realism which I believe are helpful to acknowledge.…”

“…Satsangi (2013) proposes feminist realism, a research paradigm built on certain core characteristics.…”