Gender and Qualitative Methods
- Helmi Järviluoma - University of Joensuu, Finland
- Pirkko Moisala - Abo Akademi University, Finland
- Anni Vilkko - University of Helsinki, Finland
Research Methods for Gender & Sexuality
Gender and Qualitative Methods outlines the practical and philosophical issues of gender in qualitative research. Taking a social constructionist approach to gender, the authors emphasize that the task of the researcher is to investigate how gender/s is/are defined, negotiated and performed by people themselves within specific situations and locations.
Each chapter begins with an introduction to a specific method and/or research subject and then goes on to discuss gender as an analytical category in relation to it. Areas covered include: field work; life story; membership categorisation analysis; and analysis of gender in sound and vision.
Written in a clear and accessible way, each chapter contains practical exercises that will teach the student methods to observe and analyze the effects of gender in various texts and contexts. The book is also packed with examples taken from women and men's studies as well as from feminist and other gender studies.
A very useful introduction to qualitative methods for all students trying to integrate concepts of gender studies in their qualitative research.
The chapter relating to fieldwork will be extremely useful - required reading.
