Feminist qualitative methods and methodologies in psychology: A review and reflection

Abstract

How does the current state of the field of feminist qualitative psychological research reflect and enact the methodological characteristics and values of feminist research – principally, the values of reflexivity, methodological diversity and innovation, and the prioritisation of feminist political goals over procedural, epistemological and disciplinary orthodoxy? Using a review of the methods and methodologies used in qualitative research published in two key feminist psychology journals (Feminism & Psychology; Psychology of Women Quarterly) from 2005 to 2016 as our starting point, we reflect on practices, trends, and apparent norms in feminist qualitative researching. Despite methodological development, the absence of a fully realised feminist methodological vision raises important questions. We suggest a need to query and push back at canons or orthodoxies within the discipline, and advocate looking backward to go forwards: innovation does not have to be radical, and many of our methodological feminist foremothers have a lot to offer the present and the future of our discipline.