Social Work Research: Is There a Feminist Method?

Abstract

This article examines whether social work feminist researchers have reached a consensus about the "best" method for upholding feminist principles by reviewing the research literature for the application of those principles, especially in methodology. The author concludes that no one method seems to take precedence and suggests how social workers can further the use of feminist principles in their research.With the contemporary women's movement of the 1960s and 1970s came skepticism about traditional research and its treatment of women. Feminist research developed out of this skepticism, and feminist social scientists continue to debate its substance and construction. Much of the debate has focused on the use of research methods for gathering data. Which methods correct the deficiencies of patriarchal research? Do feminist values prescribe the use of some techniques over others? Feminist social scientists have discussed at length the existence or even the prudence of having a unique feminist method (Gergen,

Rural Women's Perceptions of Community Prenatal Care Systems

“…These mandates may be created, in part, through social work leadership in the formation of community partnerships for the collection of community and individual data with community needs assessments (Witkin & Altshuld, 1995) and community-oriented planning activities (Rohrer, 1996). Strategies that foster rural women's empowerment within the community context also include the creation of collaborative and consultative processes for community resident and professional social worker partnerships (Kemp, 1995), use of the ''mutual engagement'' model of participatory community research (Petras & Porpora, 1993) and attention to feminist values and research methodologies (Mason, 1997).…”

Journeying the Quagmire: Exploring the Discourses That Shape the Qualitative Research Process

“…For example, ideas about objectivity have been challenged (Fee, 1981;Harding, 1987). The relevance of the values, beliefs, and assumptions associated with a critical perspective, particularly a feminist approach, to social work research has been clearly advocated (see, for example, Mason, 1997;Swigonski, 1993).…”

An exploratory study of the impact of male partner violence on the integration of refugee women into Canadian society

“…There are many feminisms, among them, first, second, third feminism, liberal feminism, socialist feminism, structural feminism, black feminism, essentialist feminism, non-essentialist feminism, radical feminism. Despite this diversity of feminism, the central principle of feminist theories is to understand women's unique experiences, owing to their gender and social positioning as 'the other' (Neuman & Kreuger, 2003;Miedema & Tastsoglou, 2000;Mason, 1997).…”

“…Feminist research is research that is guided by feminist principles and values (Mason, 1997;Cook & Fonow, 1986). Mason (1997) cites several scholars (e.g.…”

“…Feminist research is research that is guided by feminist principles and values (Mason, 1997;Cook & Fonow, 1986). Mason (1997) cites several scholars (e.g. Dueilli-Klein; Harding) who define feminist research as research for women, which attempts to understand women's life experiences for the purposes of changing them.…”