Beetham and Demetriades

The first article I endeavor to understand for this initial assignment is Feminist research methodologies and development: overview and practical application by Gwendolyn Beetham and Justina Demetriades.Before delving into gender implications, the authors make a point to define methodology. These women understand methodology as a theory, rather than an epistemology or research method. Epistemologies, they assert, are theories of knowledge whereas methodologies are theories of how one should conduct research. The difference, albeit subtle, is essential to one's understanding of feminist research. How can an individual do research on gender or difference if they do not operate using a candid methodology? If gender (at least in part) structures our interactions with others, if it allows for certain modes of questioning and understanding, and if it colors the ways in which we research and explain our findings, then it is in the best interest of all Women's Studies students to shape their own methodologies as well at learn those of Women's Studies as a whole.

As two of our three readings explain, there may not be a specific methodology that is feminist. What does color feminist research is an attempt to take intersectionality and depth of personal experience seriously. Page 200 of the article lists 5 tools researchers can use to create more gender-aware work.

Those listed are:

• Awareness of hierarchical power relations
• Integration of diversity
• Analysis of the relationships between research parties
• Use of qualitative methods
• Adapting of hard-to-measure data into quantitative measurments

I will keep this list high-lighted in all of it's glory and close to my laptop for all my future research. Before my analysis/summary/commentary on this article continues, I would like to take a moment to note how accessible, clear, and helpful this article is.

Beetham and Demetriades explain the Women in Development and Gender and Development paradigms for understanding womens' relationship to development (pg 200). As explained by the authors, the earlier 1970s produced a Women in Development theory that assumed women were in a compromising position in society primarily because they were kept from a professional marketplace. The later 70's gave rise to the Gender and Development theory, stemming from the critiques of (globally) southern women.

Until now in this post I have summarized some points in the article that are either new information for me or that I find to be interesting/important. From here on out I would like to think about the "Quantity versus quality" debate posed on page 205.

 I already agree that gender and intersectionality should be seriously considered when conducting research, but this gives rise to the issue of what is the most efficient way to gather data about women. Quantitative research can produce hard-hitting statistics which can then be used as springboards for discussion. National surveys are used by researchers in Sociology, Anthropology and Family studies researchers. Would it not be invaluable to have a census for women concerning family dynamics and instances of violence in their lives? Also, gathering of quantitative data seems so much less laborious and tedious than qualitative. If we are to sit down with each individual we are studying to get lengthy interviews, then how long must we wait before publishing findings?

On the other hand, qualitative data can be so rich and informative, and it is much easier to think about relationship between researcher and subject when the they are spending a greater deal of time together.

It is nothing short of overwhelming to think about the implications of using one type or a conglomerate of styles of research to study women. Though i'm sure this course as well as the other articles due this week will clarify these questions for me, I find that these are the questions at the basis of feminist methodological studies.I am not unaware that these questions have been pondered before, and that there is (extensive?) writing about them, but I also feel that one must be troubled by these issues individually if they are attempting to do research through some sort of feminist methodology.