Affilia

This article examines whether social work feminist researchers have reached a consensus about the "best" method for upholding feminist principles by reviewing the research literature for the application of those principles, especially in methodology. The author concludes that no one method seems to take precedence and suggests how social workers can further the use of feminist principles in their research.

This article presents four principles for empowering research participants using social work ethics and values and feminist principles, each of which includes examples of practical applications from a federally funded research project. These action principles are to respect and unite members of vulnerable groups, prevent harm and maximize benefits, affirm participants and colleagues, and give something back to the participants.

This article describes the author's attempts to incorporate feminist principles into a qualitative study of the process of successful restabilization among formerly homeless mother-headed families. It discusses methods for dealing with such issues as the research agenda, epistemology, and ethics, so the credibility and agenda of feminist qualitative research is not compromised, and presents case examples from the author's field journals and transcripts of interviews.

Because victimization and trauma are significant parts of women's lives, it is important for qualitative interviewers to explore and chronicle those events without raising the women's anxiety unnecessarily or revictimizing the women. This article discusses concerns related to interviewing women survivors of trauma and presents guidelines for interviewing them.

In in-depth interviews, eight lesbians talked about their interactions with social workers and other helping professionals and how they felt about their experiences. The themes that emerged included the fear of rejection and the need for feelings of safety and trust and for further education of professionals that affirms lesbians' lives. The participants also suggested what helping professionals can do to make lesbians' experiences with them more helpful, empowering, and respectful.

This article describes the findings of a study in which homeless women who were living in a shelter explored their relationships with their mothers and the impact that these relationships had on them.

"Are you married?" It is my first day of field placement. I had prepared so carefully by moving the ring my lover gave me to my right hand and leaving my pink triangle earring at home. Dressed in "professional clothes," I knew that I could pass undetected. Now, confronted with this question, how do I respond?