Qualitative Research: An Introduction to Methods and Designs

Feminist Approaches

There is no single research model guiding feminist research. Feminist practices are diverse, interdisciplinary (drawing from different academic traditions), and driven by research purpose. For example, some researchers focus on law, policy, and curriculum as vehicles to advance women's status; others study how economic forces produce gender, race, and class inequities; and others consider the role of language and systems of thought in creating, and recreating, categories people inhabit, such as “woman” and “sexuality.” Each focus reflects different theoretical approaches to formulating and conducting research.

This section will first describe several approaches to developing research questions and then provide examples of ...