Feminist Ethnography: Thinking Through Methodologies, Challenges, and Possibilities

What is feminist ethnography? What is its history? How can its methods be applied? How is feminist ethnography produced, distributed, and evaluated? How do feminist ethnographers link their findings to broader publics through activism, advocacy, and public policy? Investigating these questions and more, this cross-cultural and interdisciplinary new text employs a problem-based approach to guide readers through the methods, challenges, and possibilities of feminist ethnography. Dána-Ain Davis and Christa Craven tease out the influences of feminist ethnography across a variety of disciplines including women's and gender studies, critical race studies, ethnic studies, education, communications, psychology, sociology, urban studies, and American studies. Feature elements of the text include Essentials (excerpts from key texts in the field), Spotlights (interviews with feminist ethnographers), and suggested assignments and readings. The text concludes with a "conversation" among contemporary feminist ethnographers about what feminist ethnography looks like today and into the future. This text is accompanied by an author-maintained website that can be found here: http: //discover.wooster.edu/feministethnography/

About the Author :
Dána-Ain Davis is associate professor of urban studies at Queens College, CUNY. She is author of Battered Black Women and Welfare Reform, a contributor to Beyond Reproduction, and, with Christa Craven, coeditor of Feminist Activist Ethnography. She is the coeditor of TransformingAnthropology, the journal of the Association of Black Anthropologists. Christa Craven is associate professor of anthropology and chair of women's, gender, and sexuality studies at the College of Wooster. She is the author of Pushing for Midwives and coeditor of Feminist Activist Ethnography.

Review :
With its expansive scope and even-handed presentation of materials, this text enables students to critically understand the links between the ethnographic enterprise and feminist theory. The authors explain concepts without assuming previous familiarity or expertise and more importantly, with judicious use of jargon. Their systematic presentation of methods, history, writing, and political praxis makes this a crucial guide to the field.--Martin F. Manalansan IV, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities An important addition to methods courses in an array of disciplines, offering a comprehensive overview of how feminist ethnography functions alongside (or emerges from) other prevailing methodologies within those fields. In a very detailed, specific, and rich way, Davis and Craven unpack the methods regularly used by feminist researchers and carefully spell out what exactly it means to take a feminist approach to inquiry.--Holly Hassel, University of Wisconsin-Marathon County A highly adaptable and undeniably valuable resource, this text fills an important gap in understanding, explaining, and demonstrating the significance of feminist ethnography.--Ujju Aggarwal, The Graduate Center, City University of New York With this text, Davis and Craven have crafted a stunningly multi-dimensional, textured, provocative, and vibrant introduction to feminist ethnography. They engage multiple perspectives and unpack deep theoretical, methodological, and political material in an accessible and transparent way. Bravo!--Michelle Fine, The Graduate Center, City University of New York