Tracing the contours: Feminist research and feminist objectivity

Abstract

This paper discusses Donna Haraway's 1988 arguments about feminist objectivity and situated knowledges. The author suggests that in order for feminist research to enhance feminist objectivity, as outlined by Haraway, it is necessary to delineate some principles or criteria according to which research could be evaluated. The author argues that the three elements which Haraway points to as being central to any discussion of feminist objectivity—accountability, positioning, and partiality—lead to three questions, which, in turn frame criteria and principles according to which research may be defined as implementing the goal of feminist objectivity. It is these three criteria—reinscription, micropolitics and difference—which are discussed and defined in this paper. The author uses the example of her recent research with young working class people in Britain to demonstrate how the criteria may be used to implement and enhance the projects for developing feminist objectivity.