The Planning and Practice of Feminist Fieldwork Methodologies in Conflict and Post-Conflict Contexts

Citation:

Reiling, Carrie. 2020. "The Planning and Practice of Feminist Fieldwork Methodologies in Conflict and Post-Conflict Contexts." Sage Research Methods Cases. doi:10.4135/9781529722727.

Author: Carrie Reiling

Abstract:

This case draws lessons from feminist fieldwork methodologies in three West African countries to inform the study of international relations. It uses the implementation of the UN Security Council’s Women, Peace, and Security agenda to examine the meanings of peace and security for women and how women’s local activism works with national governments and international agendas. This case study demonstrates that feminist-driven field research is a valuable research methodology in that it is, at its core, highly reflexive. One of the benefits of using feminist fieldwork practices to study the impacts of international policies is that the researcher is continually working to avoid exploitation and the pretense of objectivity. In particular, this case explores how researchers and participants in conflict and post-conflict contexts can share knowledge and mobilize collectively, as well as how researchers can understand their data relationally across sites and crises.

Keywords: conflict, security, IT security

Topics: Civil Society, Conflict, Feminisms, Gender, Women, Peace and Security, Post-Conflict, UN Security Council Resolutions on WPS Regions: Africa, West Africa

Year: 2020