Power and politics in gender research: a research note from the discipline of accounting

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to offer a research note exploring how feminist methodologies could bring new insights into research on gender in the accounting context.Design/methodology/approachThe paper applies some central tenets of feminist research methodology to a brief critique of current research on gender and accounting, in order to overcome some of the power relationships inherent within the research and define a more explicitly political research agenda.FindingsThe paper suggests that much research in the accounting is concerned with gender‐as‐a‐variable, rather than being distinctly feminist, thus missing the opportunity to radicalise the agenda. It calls for a wider application of feminist methodology to the accounting context.Originality/valueThis paper offers a brief insight into the discipline of accounting to discuss the interaction of research methodology and gender in this particular environment.