Page 217 - Encyclopedia of Nursing Research

184 n FEMINIST rESEArCH METHOdOLOGy

also suggests specific treatments for fatigue, Feminist research methodology ini-
nursing intervention studies that target ame- tially came to nursing in a descriptive and
F liorating fatigue in different clinical popula- explanatory form more than 20 years ago. It
tions must continue. Although rest generally was described in terms of epistemology and
alleviates acute fatigue, there are currently methods, and was significant in relationship
no known methods to eliminate the fatigue to nursing (Im, 2010). Since that time, femi-
that plagues persons with various chronic ill- nist research methodology has advanced
nesses or those whose fatigue is secondary to in nursing as a basis of feminist critique
the treatments for their chronic illness. With of nursing and research. Feminist nurse
the use of standardized measures of fatigue, researchers began to explore women’s expe-
this is a fertile area for nursing research. riences without any preconceived assump-
tions or beliefs about their experiences. This
Lauren S. Aaronson allowed researchers to be open to what the
female experience was truly like, and then
conduct systematic investigation of the area
of interest. In health care–related research,
Feminist research feminist research methodology has raised
awareness that traditional scientific meth-
methodology ods are not as objective as once thought to
be. Issues such as the exclusion of women in
health care clinical trials and the bias such
Feminist research methodology is research practice results in, has brought about some
about women, for women, and by women. change in clinical research, but it continues
Feminist principles are used as a guide for to fall short of the needed change (rosser,
the conduction of such research. In a world 2007). It remains crucial that feminist nurse
that is gender traditional and stereotypical researchers stay abreast of ongoing, rapid
in nature, feminist research methodology changes in the social context. For example,
provides different perspectives and ways cardiac symptoms defined in earlier stud-
to view and understand such a world. The ies that were conducted on men, bypass not
experience is investigated and a person’s only the biophysical differences of women,
lived experience in the context of social but also ignore the societal stress women of
frameworks which influence that experience today encounter in living within multiple
is paramount to understanding. At the base roles of working and family/personal lives.
of feminist research methodology is the view Additionally, feminist research bears light on
that gender interacts with multiple factors the work that women do (unpaid and paid)
to define situations and relationships. For that is undervalued in terms of contribu-
example, career advancement cannot be sim- tion to economical society (Sweetman, 2008).
ply viewed in the traditional male perspec- Circumstances such as when women’s sal-
tive because this excludes the experience of aries are necessary to the family’s survival,
pregnant women attempting to advance in can also stir discontent and violence toward
their careers amid a biased belief that they these women from their male counterparts.
will quit when the baby is born or, at a mini- Theoretically, feminist research guides in
mum, be distracted in their work. A feminist exploration of contexts, reasons, and formal
researcher uses the philosophical underpin- and informal structures that explain why
nings of feminism to confront these typical women experience what they do. This places
structured beliefs and assumptions that any- feminist research in the position to contin-
one, regardless of gender, can advance in a ually be evolving as society and women in
career if she or he just works hard. society continue to change over time. Because