The Politics of Location: Doing Feminist Research at “Home”∗

Abstract

Feminist research methodologies have many advantages over more traditional positivist methodologies. Feminist research is differentiated from nonfeminist research in terms of its critiques of universality and objectivity and its emancipatory purpose. Drawing on my own research on the survival strategies of low-waged women workers in Worcester, Massachusetts, I argue that we need to examine more critically our feminist research methods in terms of the unequal power relationships on which the research process necessarily rests. Key Words: qualitative research methodologies, feminist research methodologies. the papers highlight both the importance of central concern is the way in which gender e politics of feminist fieldwork, as disseries of compelling challenges for geography; Th cussed in the preceding papers, raise a fieldwork and the challenges it presents. Of T h e authors are equally responsible for this amcle Professional Geographer, 46(1) 1994, pages 96-102 0

Digital Passages: Migrant Youth 2.0. Diaspora, Gender and Youth Cultural Intersections

“…Without the presence of Fayrouz in the research process, I would not have been able to incorporate a discussion of the intricacies of this notion in this book. dimensions triggered contradictory responses from the informants (Gilbert 1994;Mullings, 1999). Various interview setups were explored to make sure we understood the different implications of interviewer-interviewee positioning processes.…”

Insider or outsider, both or neither: some dilemmas of interviewing in a cross-cultural setting

“…A number of geographers have begun to explore ways that the process by which information is interpreted can be made more transparent in qualitative methodologies (Rose, 1997;Gilbert, 1994;Katz, 1994;Kobayashi, 1994;McDowell, 1992a;Pile, 1991). They argue that researchers can situate their knowledge through re¯exive consideration of the relations of power that operate during ®eldwork process.…”

“…Drawing upon metaphors of spatiality, it can be therefore argued that Ôknowledge is never pure but is situated in the complex and sometimes contradictory social locations of producers and audiencesÕ (Women and Geography Study Group, 1997). A number of feminist scholars have argued that researchers need to incorporate methodologies that recognize the existence of multiple viewpoints and the partiality of their own assessments (McDowell, 1992a;England, 1994;Gilbert, 1994;Archibald and Crnkovich, 1995;Lawson, 1995;Pratt and Hanson, 1995).In the search for alternative ways of knowing and interpreting the world, many social scientists have begun to re-examine the bene®ts of qualitative techniques, and in particular those related to ethnography (Eyles, 1988;Katz, 1994;Kobayashi, 1994;Code, 1995;Wolf, 1996;Baxter and Eyles, 1997). The conduct of ethnographic ®eldwork is ®rmly grounded in an empirical methodology that is devoted to the analysis of research data acquired by means of ®rst-hand interactions with members of a local community over a substantial period of time.…”

“…Drawing upon metaphors of spatiality, it can be therefore argued that Ôknowledge is never pure but is situated in the complex and sometimes contradictory social locations of producers and audiencesÕ (Women and Geography Study Group, 1997). A number of feminist scholars have argued that researchers need to incorporate methodologies that recognize the existence of multiple viewpoints and the partiality of their own assessments (McDowell, 1992a;England, 1994;Gilbert, 1994;Archibald and Crnkovich, 1995;Lawson, 1995;Pratt and Hanson, 1995).…”

Amplifying voices of development: Insights from Indigenous Maya leaders of El Quiche, Guatemala.

“…This means that when taking a peison's testimony, an individual will tell the truth to the best of their ability Howcvei, Clifford (ibid) explains that lespondents often "lie" by either omission oi ihetonc and thus the lescaichei must understand (hat while seeking the tiuth, they will only lcceivc a "paitial tiuth " This is beyond the lcseaicher's control, but can be acknowledged thiough ngour and leflexivity whom I was speaking. Also, I was very clear and direct about my relationships with outside agencies; for example, I was not there to exploit the Indigenous leaders for information (Allen, 2003;Browne, 2003;Dowling, 2005;England, 1994;Gilbert, 1994;Mansvelt & Berg, 2005) nor was I an informant for any outside agencies. I was clear and forthright with each person I met.…”