The Methodological Impact of Feminism: A Troubling Issue for Sociology? (original) (raw)
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Towards a quantitative feminist sociology: the possibilities of a methodological oxymoron
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ion, Context and Relational Identity Feminists, alongside Marxist and other radical critics, have argued that numbers reproduce an abstracted and commodified social reality, which facilitates domination by the powerful (capital, the ruling class, white heterosexual men). This is seen across multiple social realms, where demand for measurable criteria come to dominate and transform our lived reality: from health care (where survival rates or bed occupancy are compared and hospital funding made dependent on this) to education (where schools and universities are scored and ranked) to leisure pursuits (where pastimes and hotels are graded) to sociability (where our ‘friends’ or ‘followers’ are flattened out and summed). This abstracted sociality lies in contrast to lived experience and reflects the priorities of those who create the mechanisms for measurement. Yet abstraction is also critical for theorybuilding as while ‘too much distance makes it hard to see the person; too close proxi...
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The American Sociologist, 1989
Many feminist sociologists have rejected quantitative in favor of qualitative methods, a position which might seem justified by feminist critiques of positivism. This paper examines both quantitative and qualitative methods in light of two major themes in radical feminist epistemology, the critique of objectivity and the politics of the research process, and finds both classes of methods vulnerable. We argue that underlying the argument against quantitative methods is a rejection of abstraction and a dichotomization of methodologies, both of which are inconsistent with feminist insights. We call for a reconstruction of methodology that transforms both quantitative and qualitative techniques in ways informed by feminist epistemology and builds research agendas that integrate both approaches.
Feminist Research Methodology: challenges to the main (male) stream research
Feminism and feminist movement in the 70's aimed at ending the subordination and suffering of women. Its endeavor was to emancipate women and bring gender equality in various fields including that of theory and research. The feminist critique of research in general and of social science research in particular has emerged as a legitimate, relevant and popular research model against the male bias prevalent in the existing theory and research. With the rise of the feminist movement many feminist scholars argued that traditional social sciences reflected a deep rooted male centric, sexist and patriarchal representation of society in theory and knowledge. This approach was condemned for neglecting or ignoring the standpoint of women, her values and experiences in the society. Hence with the advent of critical theoretical approach* and strong feminist movements, a model was introduced which aimed to "serve the interests of
The inclusion of quantitative techniques and diversity in the mainstream of feminist research
Much is written about quantitative techniques and feminist and gender studies. Despite convincing arguments in favour of utilizing these methods, they are still largely absent in the heartland of gender studies. In this article, this is related to the observation that methods are tied to epistemological positions and consequently quantitative studies are a priori associated with overgeneralization. A new perspective -the diversity continuumis presented in order to contextualize research and make it possible to judge it relatively. This shows that quantitative research can increase the understanding of differences and similarities. Subsequently, it is discussed how quantitative research can be utilized to understand differences between people using existing basic techniques. In line with the conceptualization of diversity, this includes techniques to study intersectionality and how developments have different effects on men and women. The continuum and techniques are illustrated by an example of political interest (in the Dominican Republic).
Sociological Inquiry, 1986
This analysis focuses on feminist methodology in the field of sociology by surveying the techniques used in recent research concerning gender-related topics as well as feminist analyses of epistemological assumptions underlying the conduct of inquiry. In addition to the critique and reformulation of standard research practice, feminist methodology involves the development of innovative methodological approaches, including visual techniques, conversational and textual analysis, and analysis of spontaneous events. Linked to the development of innovation is the feminist analysis of the epistemological assumptions which underlie different ways of knowing. These principles of feminist knowledge include (1) the necessity of continuously and reflexively attending to the significance of gender relations as a basic feature of all social life, including the conduct of research; (2) the centrality of consciousness-raising as a specific methodological tool and as a “way of seeing;” (3) the need to challenge the norm of “objectivity” that assumes a dichotomy between the subject and object of research; (4) the concern for the ethical implications of research; and (5) an emphasis on the transformation of patriarchy and the empowerment of women.
The quantitative/qualitative debate and feminist research : a subjective view of objectivity
Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung Forum Qualitative Social Research Vol 2 Pp 13 Peer Reviewed Journal, 2001
Research methods are "technique(s) for ... gathering data" (HARDING 1986) and are generally dichotomised into being either quantitative or qualitative. It has been argued that methodology has been gendered (OAKLEY 1997; 1998), with quantitative methods traditionally being associated with words such as positivism, scientific, objectivity, statistics and masculinity. In contrast, qualitative methods have generally been associated with interpretivism, non-scientific, subjectivity and femininity. These associations have led some feminist researchers to criticise