What is Cultural Research? Week 2.
My provisional thoughts on:
1. My proposed dissertation topic and methodology: particular interest in the areas of disability and feminism, feminist blogging, feminism and sexuality (representations of women’s sexuality in ‘lads mags’, pornography etc). As I am deaf, my methodology will need to take this into account. It may be possible to use online forums, blogs, instant messenger interviews or chatroom interviews, and questionnaires. I will most likely use qualitative methods as this will allow for richness of findings and narratives.
2. My future career plans: No particular future career plans as such; but I would like to work for a women’s organization or an organization for deaf people (or deaf women). I would very much like to do a PhD in the future but will need to take some time out to raise funds and formulate a research project, as well as gain some insight into the world of work.
3. What Methodological skills I already have: Previously done some research in Sociology using quantitative and qualitative research in questionnaires. I have not done any interviewing and feel that this may be difficult because I would need a notetaker or speech to text transcriber. This may affect the outcomes of interviews and the atmosphere. I believe I will need training in further research skills.
4. Any research skills I know I need: online interviewing skills, how to use the internet as a means of research, some ethnographic research skills, and so on.
5. My thoughts on the purpose and methods of ‘feminist research’, especially as my ideas have developed in term one: Strong emphasis on qualitative research and ethnography. Documentation of women’s voices. The importance of exposing dominant patriarchal discourses within western (and other) societies and respecting of differences among women as individuals whilst recognising at the same time that we have similarities (which may also be slightly different according to our circumstances – race, class, disability and so on).
