NCJ Number
210314
Date Published
2005
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This chapter analyzes the complexities involved with researching people in positions of power.
Abstract
Feminist research is generally thought of as focusing on victims of male patriarchy and violence. Indeed, there is a large focus on victims within feminist discourse, yet there is also a need to study individuals who hold positions of power within society. Feminist methodological discussions rarely confront the issues of researching, particularly interviewing, research subjects who enjoy positions of power within society and could be construed as more “powerful” than the researcher. The author tackles this subject by focusing on her dissertation research in the early to mid-1990s that involved interviewing powerful research subjects, including “feminist insiders.” The main issues surrounding the interviewing of “elites” are discussed, including problems with objectivity and the so-called battle for control of the interview. The author describes the process of interviewing elites, including the problems of access to informants and control over the interview. The author asserts that in order to remain relevant, feminist researchers must open up their preferred discourses to public academic scrutiny and must guard against becoming “feminist insiders” or feminist elites who risk becoming untouchable as research subjects. Notes, bibliography