Feminist Ethnography

Feminist ethnography is a powerful tool to address social inequities, especially in times of political and social turmoil. With recent (and historical) challenges to basic human rights throughout the world, those in power are banking on the assumption that most people who care about these issues will be so overwhelmed by the volume of actions and events that they will become immobile, despondent, and resigned. That’s where frameworks like feminist ethnography come into action – a way to cut through the noise, be in meaningful conversation with others, and lift up the voices of those whose lives are being impacted – including, oftentimes, our own.

Below are links to several assignments that can help students utilize feminist ethnography to do work that engages in critical thinking and meaningful engagement with research that highlights everyday experiences. This work is essential! Feminist ethnographers have a particularly important role to play in ensuring that a diverse range of voices and experiences are collected, studied, and in many cases distributed beyond the classroom as we navigate contemporary social and political shifts throughout the world.

The assignments included on this site are designed to augment Feminist Ethnography: Thinking Through Methodologies, Challenges & Possibilities, second edition, but can be revamped for use in many courses. Each Assignment includes a description, rubric template, and suggestions for instructors:

• Assignment 1 (Semester/Module Project): Increase the Visibility of Feminist Ethnographers, Scholars & Activists (Wikipedia Project)
• Assignment 2 (Group Semester Project): Volunteer Your Feminist Ethnographic Skills with a Community-Based Organization
  • Final Project Example: Report produced for Ancient Song Doula Services by Dána-Ain Davis’s Masters-level Feminist Research Methods course
• Assignment 3 (Collaborative Engagement with Group Presentations): Critical Readings & Engagements with Feminist Ethnography
• Assignment 4 (Culminating Assignment): Compose a “Think Piece” for a Public Audience Grounded in Feminist Ethnography

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Download Assignment 2 - Completed Example »

Additional Resources:

• PowerPoint Timeline of Key Dates from Feminist Ethnography: Thinking Through Methodologies, Challenges & Possibilities, second edition

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