Oxfam Canada primarily conducts feminist research by, with, and for women and girls. However, not all research that focuses on women, girls, or even gender inequality, is inherently feminist. What makes research feminist or not is the approach that is taken, and the decisions that are made throughout the research process – also called the “research methodology.”

Feminist research methodology is based on a set of principles and practices designed to recognize and address power inequalities throughout the research process, including between and among researchers and participants. These principles and practices inform ways of working that prioritize power, participation, collaboration, contextualization, reflexivity, inclusivity, and responsiveness. They may differ from one organization or researcher to another.

This guidance note is designed to provide support for applying feminist approaches to research, and to showcase practical examples of how integrating feminist research can add value to development programming. Committing to do this work effectively and sensitively is essential to the success of feminist research and its ability to make a difference to the lives of women, girls, and persons of diverse SOGIESC.