Feminism In Research

Question 1

Is Feminism generally objective?

Answer 1

No - subjective

Question 2

What does Heidensohn say?

Answer 2

Sociology is malestream and genderblind (particularly positivist research which imposes its view through fixed responses and qualitative data)

Question 3

What does Oakley say about qualitative vs feminist research?

Answer 3

Qualitative research is ‘masculine’, Feminist methods both ‘give and recieve’

Question 4

What does Reinharz (radical fem) suggest?

Answer 4

‘Structured methods’ are ‘research as rape’

Question 5

Who evaluates Oakley and how?

Answer 5

Pawson - her methods are not unique, she has used qualitative methods herself, and the more powerful ‘masculine’ approach means that research is taken more seriously thus should be used

Question 6

What is standpoint feminism?

Answer 6

Mies (1993) - females must remove themselves from ‘malestream sociology’ by:
participating with women
positively identifying with women
aiming to unite women (for equality)

Question 7

What is a criticism of standpoint feminism?

Answer 7

Obviously has a value standpoint, criticized by Positivists

Oakley notes that there are ethical issues when sociologists become friends with participants

Question 8

What does Postmodern feminism say?

Answer 8

Carol Smart - there are a variety of discourses, not all women’s experiences are the same (Lyotard’s idea of metanarratives)