Feminist Methodologies: Experiments, Collaborations And Reflections

Description

This book gives insights into feminist methodologies in theory and practice. By foregrounding the experiential and embodied nature of doing feminist research, this book offers valuable tools for feminist research as a continuous praxis. Emerging from a rich collective learning process, the collection offers in-depth reflections on how feminists shape research questions, understand positionality, share research results beyond academe and produce feminist intersectional knowledges. This book reveals how the authors navigate theory and practice, candidly exploring the difficulty of producing knowledge on the edge of academia and activism. From different points of view, places and disciplinary positions, artistic and creative experiments and collaborations, the book provides a multi-layered analysis. This book will be a valuable resource and asset to early career researchers and interdisciplinary feminist students who can learn more about the doing of feminist research from realistic, accessible, and practical methodological tools and knowledge. Preface On the Shores of a Lake Acknowledgements Contents Notes on Contributors List of Figures List of Tables 1 Introduction: Feminism as Method—Navigating Theory and Practice Introduction: Navigating Theory and Practice Mapping Out the Patterns Intersectionality Embodiment Relationality Emotion Listening to Silences Conclusion References 2 Senses of Discomfort: Negotiating Feminist Methods, Theory and Identity Introduction Starting Points: Unsettling the Origins of More-Than-Human Thinking Fieldwork: Process, Surprises and (The Queer Art of) Failure Negotiating Plural Identities in and Beyond “the field” Conclusions References 3 Feminist Ethics Amid Covid-19: Unpacking Assumptions and Reflections on Risk in Research Introduction Starting Points Unpacking Assumptions Reflections on Risk Concluding Thoughts References 4 Of Apps and the Menstrual Cycle: A Journey into Self-Tracking Tracking the Origins of This Chapter Positioning the Journey The Overwhelming Period Analogue Intimacy Flo and Me The Production of Disembodied Knowledge of the Body Final Thoughts References 5 Embodying Cyberspace: Making the Personal Political in Digital Places Introduction Background to Women on the Net (WoN): A Feminist Research Project Funded by UNESCO 1997–1999 (Wendy) Background to Cuir Copensantes (CC): Recalling [recordando], Sensing [sintiendo] and Healing [sanando] together [juntes] (Ximena) Feminist Genealogies Feminist Entanglements—Across Time and Place One: Writing from Confinement Reflections (Wendy and Ximena) Two: Care and Nurturing Reflections (Wendy and Ximena) Three: Transitions Reflections (Ximena and Wendy) Four: Intergenerational Conversations Across Time and Place, a Dialogue Conclusion: The Transformative Potential of Feminist Methodologies Epilogue References 6 Mulai Leave—datang Arrive—pulang Return. Working the Field Together: A Feminist Mother–Son Journey in Yogyakarta, Indonesia Preceding the Beginning Theory: Accompanied by Children in Field Research Creating the Field Together Mulai: Leaving Behind Datang: Arriving in Yogyakarta Emotional Maintenance Bodily Maintenance Spiritual Maintenance Pulang: Returning and Intercultural Resonance Expanding Mobility and Trust Bidding Farewell Conclusion: Coming to Terms Otherwise References 7 Methodologies for Collaborative, Respectful and Caring Research: Conversations with Professional Indigenous Women from Mexico Setting Common Ground The Narratives Marcela. The Food and the Microbus Oaxaca, November 19, 2019 Microbus Conversations Miriam. The Market and the Cenote Valladolid, October 9, 2019 Walking Conversation Adjusting the Research, Placing Care at the Centre References 8 Immersion, Diversion, Subversion: Living a Feminist Methodology Introduction Journeying from Natural Science to Social Sciences Chapteengala? (Have You Eaten?) The Process of Producing “Data” My Identity as a Researcher My Caste Location My Class Background Gendered Lives Embodying a Different Living Poivittu Varuhiren: Goodbye, for the Time Being Postscript Reflecting on My Methodology References 9 Embodied Urban Cartographies: Women’s Daily Trajectories on Public Transportation in Guadalajara, Mexico Introduction The Point of Departure The Intersectional and Embodied Urban Experience Comprehensive Embodied Urban Cartographies Mapping Women’s Daily Trajectories to Work Subjective Trajectory Mapping Relief Maps Accompanied Trajectories and Walking Interviews Cartographies, Public and Private Urban Spaces and Normative Bodies Conclusion References 10 Interconnected Experiences: Embodying Feminist Research with Social Movements Introduction What Does Feminist Research Methodology Mean to Us? Relating to Social Movements as Feminist Researchers Tamara: Embroidering Feminist Activist Research with Women of the MAB Daniela: Self-Care as a Pleasurable Form of Resistance Fleur: Blurring the Boundaries Through Activist Research How Can Feminist Activist Research Contribute to Social Movement Struggles? Tamara: Connecting Academic Feminist Research with the Movement’s Popular Education Feminist Methodology Daniela: Self-Care as a Dialogue for Transformation Fleur: Building and Sustaining Relations as Social Change Final Thoughts References 11 Feminist Storytellers Imagining New Stories to Tell Introduction Methodology: Imagining The Steps The Writing and the Drawing The Positioning Appetite for Change Conclusion References 12 A Fieldwork Story Told Through Knitting Casting On—An Introduction My Seed Stitches—Knitting, Mental Health, and Fieldwork Crossing Needles, Carrying Yarn—My Fieldwork Story Casting Off—Closing Reflections References 13 Scarheart: Research as Healing Introduction Method Scientific The Then Now Next References 14 Epilogue: Learning, Unlearning, and Relearning