Re-search and Re-form: A Feminist Perspective in Home Economics Research
By L. Peterat
Glossary Terms
Androcentric vision – reality of men for the norm (Peterat, 1989, pg. 216)
Gynoentric – woman-centered vision (Peterat, 1989, pg. 216)
Quotes
‘Margrit Eichler defines feminist research as “research informed by a commitment to social justice for women and/or research that expresses prevailing sexist biases and/or creates unbiased alternatives and/or constructs reality from a female perspective”’ (Peterat, 1989, pg. 211)
I mostly posted this to show how a feminist perspective is used and some of the purposes it might serve.
“…five ways in which sexism can enter the research process: 1) through the use of sexist language, 2) through the use of sexist concepts, 3) by taking an androcentric perspective, 4) through the use of a sexist methodology, 5) through a sexist interpretation of results” (Peterat, 1989, pg. 212)
I think this is a great quote to remember when doing research and should be in the back of one’s mind at all points during their research. Is there a sexist tone (male or female) to my work and how can I change that?
“…drew on women’s experiences and realities as the source of new ways of knowing. This in turn presented the possibility that being women offered a different world view (or ontological source) of equal importance and value and offered, therefore, an alternative epistemological ground.” (Peterat, 1989, pg. 213)
“While some believe it is the only way to escape the domination of male-as-norm in research, other believe that any research which fosters the notion of woman-as-different offers easy support for essentialist and socio-biological arguments.” (Peterat, 1989, pg. 213)
I chose both of these quotes because they provide an interesting perspective. Many women (not all) have a different way of looking at the world than their male (not all) counterparts. Part of this is due to their experiences living in a patriarchal world or their experiences dealing with biological differences. I think the key point to note here is that everyone sees things differently and experiences thing uniquely. Some of these experiences are shared based on biology but it does not negate the values of this way of knowing and understanding the world around us, it is just different and men and women can learn a great deal from each other and need to listen to each other to do so.
“…the researcher also becomes part of the research….The process of research and the researcher with biases, personal history, and experiences with the research is scrutinized alone with the outcomes of the research.” (Peterat, 1989, pg. 215)
How can you not question what the researcher believes and how they are viewing the situation and analyzing the data that they have gathered? It would be illogical not to, and would be like taking a pill that a company produces because they tell you that they have done the research and it is good for you. There needs to be other things to back it up.
References
Peterat, L. (1989). Re-search and Re-form: A Feminist Perspective in Home Economics Research. In F. H. Hultgren & D. L. Coomer (Eds.), Alternate modes of inquiry in home economics research. Yearbook 9, American Home Economics Association, (pp. 211-219). Peoria, IL: Glencoe Publishing Company.
Androcentric vision – reality of men for the norm (Peterat, 1989, pg. 216)
Gynoentric – woman-centered vision (Peterat, 1989, pg. 216)
Quotes
‘Margrit Eichler defines feminist research as “research informed by a commitment to social justice for women and/or research that expresses prevailing sexist biases and/or creates unbiased alternatives and/or constructs reality from a female perspective”’ (Peterat, 1989, pg. 211)
I mostly posted this to show how a feminist perspective is used and some of the purposes it might serve.
“…five ways in which sexism can enter the research process: 1) through the use of sexist language, 2) through the use of sexist concepts, 3) by taking an androcentric perspective, 4) through the use of a sexist methodology, 5) through a sexist interpretation of results” (Peterat, 1989, pg. 212)
I think this is a great quote to remember when doing research and should be in the back of one’s mind at all points during their research. Is there a sexist tone (male or female) to my work and how can I change that?
“…drew on women’s experiences and realities as the source of new ways of knowing. This in turn presented the possibility that being women offered a different world view (or ontological source) of equal importance and value and offered, therefore, an alternative epistemological ground.” (Peterat, 1989, pg. 213)
“While some believe it is the only way to escape the domination of male-as-norm in research, other believe that any research which fosters the notion of woman-as-different offers easy support for essentialist and socio-biological arguments.” (Peterat, 1989, pg. 213)
I chose both of these quotes because they provide an interesting perspective. Many women (not all) have a different way of looking at the world than their male (not all) counterparts. Part of this is due to their experiences living in a patriarchal world or their experiences dealing with biological differences. I think the key point to note here is that everyone sees things differently and experiences thing uniquely. Some of these experiences are shared based on biology but it does not negate the values of this way of knowing and understanding the world around us, it is just different and men and women can learn a great deal from each other and need to listen to each other to do so.
“…the researcher also becomes part of the research….The process of research and the researcher with biases, personal history, and experiences with the research is scrutinized alone with the outcomes of the research.” (Peterat, 1989, pg. 215)
How can you not question what the researcher believes and how they are viewing the situation and analyzing the data that they have gathered? It would be illogical not to, and would be like taking a pill that a company produces because they tell you that they have done the research and it is good for you. There needs to be other things to back it up.
References
Peterat, L. (1989). Re-search and Re-form: A Feminist Perspective in Home Economics Research. In F. H. Hultgren & D. L. Coomer (Eds.), Alternate modes of inquiry in home economics research. Yearbook 9, American Home Economics Association, (pp. 211-219). Peoria, IL: Glencoe Publishing Company.