Page 218 - Encyclopedia of Nursing Research

FEMINIST rESEArCH METHOdOLOGy n 185

of societal changes in the increasing number issues surrounding pain in women with
of women in the workforce, women in the cancer (Im & Chee, 2003). In particular, bias
workforce of the 1970s faced different chal- existing within health care is being targeted F
lenges because of gender than do women in by feminist nurse researchers (Im, 2010). For
today’s workforce. example, feminist methodology could be
Feminist researchers seek to under- used to explore discrimination that might
stand women’s experiences through use of occur in an underserved female population
methods they think will reveal appropriate at a typical emergency department.
outcomes for women. Although methods despite feminist research methodology
may include the use of interviews, question- and the fit with women and health and ill-
naires, surveys, and inventories, use of group ness, research using the methodology seems
discussions, participant observation, and sto- limited. Feminist researchers also face addi-
rytelling are more empowering to women. tional pressures as they attempt to conduct
Feminist research is not composed of one studies. Feminism often carries a some-
particular method, and use of qualitative what negative connotation in society and
research methods has grown considerably in feminist researchers may be thwarted in
feminist nursing research in the last 5 years research attempts. Nurse researchers engag-
(Im, 2010). Feminist researchers gravitate ing in feminist methodology in health care
toward qualitative methods because of how may encounter conscious and unconscious
these methods fit more cohesively with the research barriers following disclosure that
philosophy of feminism. Feminist research- the study is feminist based. Feminist nurse
ers typically use several methods, such as researchers must not be deterred by such
triangulation, to obtain the best picture of barriers and seek to fully explore health care
women’s experiences. structures and systems that oppress women.
There is evidence that feminist research There are numerous issues that could be
methodology is evolving as society evolves. brought to light should this methodology
For example, some feminist nurse researchers be used to explore these issues. An exam-
are using feminist methodology to explore ple of this is menopausal symptoms among
variances in class and ethnicity, as well as women, which remains highly biomedical
disabilities and sexual preference (Im, 2010). even in nursing research (Im, 2007).
It is interactive, including the participant as The biopsychosocial model is the newly
part of the process. It is also nonhierarchical, emerging approach to explore and explain
thus confronting the traditional hierarchical how society and multiple organizational
medical field. Increased research with vary- levels of society influence health outcomes
ing groups of women, such as women of dif- (Borrell-Carrio, Suchman, & Epstein, 2004).
ferent ethnicities and socioeconomic status, The biopsychosocial model will continue to
reflect the diversity among women them- be in demand and aligns with feminist nurs-
selves. Nurse researchers in particular are ing research beliefs in putting the client at
conducting an increasing number of feminist the center of the investigation and tailoring
research methodology studies that engage health knowledge to match client needs.
female and male participants (Im, 2010). One of the basic tenets of feminist
These studies identify differences in female research is to not only provide opportunity
and male experiences in health care. for dialogue about experiences in health care
Feminist nursing research methodology for example, but also to find ways to change
is now being used to explore many different systems in health care for the improvement
aspects of women’s experiences in health and of women’s health. This counters popular
illness. In one such example, nurse research- belief that feminist research methodology
ers used a feminist perspective to look at exists only to complain about unfairness