Feminism and Method

In Feminism and Method, Nancy Naples provides a clear and accessible overview of the different theories of feminist methodology and practice as well as a framework for solving some of the most difficult research challenges faced by social scientists. Drawing on diverse research issues, such as welfare reform, rural economic development, racial formation, community control, and sexual abuse, Naples illustrates some of the most salient dilemmas of feminist research: the debate over objectivity, the materiality of discourse, the dilemma of standpoint, and the challenges of activist research. By linking important feminist theoretical debates with case studies, Naples illustrates the strategies she developed for resolving the challenges posed by postmodern, Third World, and postcolonial feminist critiques of the practice of social research.