Reflexivity, Feminism, and Difference

Wasserfall, Rahel R. (1997). In Rosanna Hertz (Ed.), Reflexivity & Voice (pp. 150-168). Thousand Oaks, London and New Delhi: Sage Publications.

Wasserfall finds the roots of reflexive methods in two interrelated research strands: (1) Reflexive methods were recognized as a reaction to conventional or colonial anthropology since the 1970s with emphasis on researchers' compassionate and nonexploitative relations with research subjects. [THIS IS RELATIONAL REFLEXIVITY] (2) Another strand is found with the "Interpretative Turn" (p. 151) in the social sciences. The objectivity is questioned and the researcher's own subjectivity and power in knowledge production is recognized . In this strand, researchers come under scrutiny, or are conceived as the instrument of their research. Here reflexivity becomes one of the most important research tools. [SELF-CRITICAL]

Wasserfall acknowledged that reflexivity was still ill defined. In her definition, reflexivity is monitoring a researcher's own subjectivity in relation to knowledge production as well as power difference between herself and her research subjects. According to her, feminist research and methodology generally include a reference to reflexivity, yet, she argues that reflexivity, although helpful to contextualize the study and having the potential for empathetic relationships with her subjects, thus empowering both researchers and subjects, has limits, in particular in the fields where conflicts of political beliefs, culture, class, ethnicity, etc. are strong between the two parties.

More specifically she calls attention to a tension between reflexive methods and the feminist approach that questions the commonality stemming from gender and emphasizes differences among women's experiences. She contends that the empathy between researchers and participants cannot be simply assumed, then asks whether it could create an exploitative situations. In this regard, she calls for a re-examination of reflexive methods to the extent that it will shed light on the debated issues of cultural difference and feminism.