Fictions of Feminist Ethnography_R_Provost

In Visweswaran’s Fictions of Feminist Ethnography, she conjures up stories and examples to demonstrate or explain the complexities and contradictions that live in research, specifically ethnographical research. She meditates on the power dynamics between “Western” and “Eastern” vantage points. This is similar to Tuhiwai Smith’s understanding and critiques of research methodologies. However, Visweswaran seems to interrogate feminist ethnography moreso than Tuhiwai Smith. Visweswaran seems to interrogate the feminist theories when approaching the power dynamics.

This idea is illuminated when Visweswaran says “it is an attempt to locate myself in a field of power (the West) and in the production of a particular knowledge (about the East)” (48). This recognizes both the power dynamics that occur in these transactions of information as well as the positionality of relationships that are created based on identity formations. This is highlighted even further in saying “in the relationship between some women’s refusal to subject(ed) and my own subject position (48). This suggests that the power dynamics are problematic when trying to locate or ground oneself in the work and research they are conducting.

The topic of identity and how that affects power dynamics is a theme that is discussed throughout the book. This is important in both understanding where the questions are rooted in research, specifically in the context of ethnographic research which the explanations of a culture, person or collective peoples experiences are being described by a Western perspective.

Furthermore, the exploration of connecting feminist theory to practice in ethnography is interesting as Visweswaran discusses the resistance in silence (51). These silences can be interpreted as resistances but I’m curious as to what practices are in place to ensure that the interpretations of silences and divulged information is not an act of power. How can one ensure the fidelity to both the person that is being interviewed and the research? Perhaps it could be argued that if one is not faithful to the integrity of the person their engaging with, then the research doesn’t utilized feminist principles.

While in my own work I do not conduct ethnographic work, I think about the evaluative processes that are utilized in youth-based, youth-led programs and how there are often discussions about power dynamics and how to make the research more youth-led participatory research. This ensures and active process for the young people that are being centered in the program evaluation, developmental research, etc.

Questions:

How is the incorporation (or lack thereof) of participatory research incorporated into ethnographic research? Does this change the understanding of power dynamics in research?