Feminist Methodology and Contemporary Feminist Research in India

Abstract

Feminist methodology seeks to assess knowledge-generating strategies in terms of their suitability for feminist research. Feminist methodology is not to be identified with any particular object of study or specific set of theories, doctrines or knowledge claims. This type of research is a self-reflexive inquiry that seeks knowledge for emancipation and which challenges asymmetric and inequitable constructions. Historically, feminist research expanded the theories and objects of investigation to a focus on women, then their work moved towards recognizing gender disparities and then even more specifically moved to contemporary critiques that include the investigation of the types of methods used in all research; the analysis of how theories are incorporated into the research; the critique of how evidence is gathered; and determination at higher levels of abstraction in what counts as truth and authority. The present study will try to focus on problematic of feminist research and what should be the basic components of feminist research methodology in contemporary India.