Doing Feminist Research

This volume presents accounts of research work undertaken by sociologists who have been influenced by feminism or the feminist critique of sociology, or both.

By now it must be clear to even the most traditional of male scholars that in doing sociological research we can no longer follow Evans-Pritchard''s advice to behave like a gentleman, keep off the women, take quinine daily and play it by ear. This volume presents accounts of research work undertaken by sociologists who have been influenced by feminism or the feminist critique of sociology, or both. It proceeds from the basis that problems raised in personal accounts of research are themselves of sociological importance and that such accounts can offer the student a lively insight into research of a kind that is often denied by conventional methods textbooks. That there are sexual as well as social divisions in society cannot be ignored by sociologists, but much of the work that has appeared up to now has been concerned with making women visible within sociology. There has been little basic theoretical work, and still less work on the ways in which either taking a feminist perspective, or even merely taking account of women in research, affects the research process. This volume presents discussion on practical, methodological. theoretical and ethical issues raised where the sociologist adopts, or is aware of, a feminist perspective. ''There are very few methods books like this one that sociologists would pick up and read from cover to cover - and cause a queue of colleagues to form eagerly awaiting to get their hands on it. Compelling reading''. Colin Bell New Society