How to conduct feminist research with reflexivity

New article ´Building on decolonial feminist scholarship, we show how a commitment to reflexive practice “in the field” has developed further, through a reflection on the self as a researcher and on “the field” as a construct. This ethical and political commitment prompts a rethinking of key concepts in fieldwork (and research more generally), including those of “the researcher,” “the research participant” (or “population”), “expertise,” and what constitutes “data” and “knowledge.” We argue that a preferable approach to critical fieldwork is grounded in feminist and decolonial, anti-racist, anti-capitalist politics. This approach is committed not just to reflecting critically on “the field” and the interactions of the researcher within it but also to challenging the divisions, exclusions, and structures of oppression that sustain the separations between “here” and “there,” “researcher” and “researched,” and “knower" and “known.”´

Some reflections on feminist research from our recent work: Before I share these thoughts, I want to say upfront I am no expert. I am learning through my everyday work, interactions, and collective experiences. These reflections stem from co-authoring the paper “Urgent Imperatives: Advancing Gender Equality in Climate Action” with my colleague Saumya Shrivastava. The roots of this work lie in a commitment to social change generating new knowledge, and ensuring that the concerns of women, especially those facing intersectional vulnerabilities, are truly at the center. It felt natural to ground this research in feminist principles as it came from lived experience, collective need, and a desire to challenge systems rather than tick boxes in neoliberal academia. The framework we developed is not static, it is imagined to be tested, adapted and reshaped with time and context. It has been an osmotic process that seeps into our shared thinking and practice. One of the most powerful tools for this was "listening" 👂 : not just as a method, but as a relational practice. We listened deeply, online and in-person, to the women whose experiences are often missing from dominant discourses. We asked open-ended questions, and held space for pauses, silences and stories without steering people to neat conclusions. The conversations that shaped this framework were diverse, honest, and often pushed us to reflect critically on our own assumptions. It was also challenged and strengthened through dialogue with those, whose voices are critical for a truly gender-transformative approach.  Feminist research means centering methodologies that expand our own understanding and create space for those rendered invisible by our institutions and action. 📄 You can read more about the methodology we adopted, here 👇 https://lnkd.in/gGn6QrJP #FeministResearch #GenderEquality #ClimateAction #ListeningAsPractice #TransformativeFrameworks

Feminist Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) is not just an approach—it is a radical shift in how evidence is generated, interpreted, and used to challenge power dynamics and drive transformative social change. Traditional MEAL frameworks often reinforce existing hierarchies, treating beneficiaries as passive data sources rather than agents of change with valuable lived experiences. This document introduces a feminist lens to MEAL, redefining what counts as evidence, who holds knowledge, and how learning can be a collective and empowering process rather than a bureaucratic exercise. At the heart of this approach is a commitment to participation, intersectionality, and power redistribution. It moves beyond extractive data collection and emphasizes collaborative knowledge generation, ensuring that women’s rights organizations, marginalized communities, and frontline actors lead the evaluation process. The document outlines seven foundational principles, including shifting power to participants, valuing context-driven knowledge, and embedding MEAL within broader social transformation efforts. It presents practical strategies for designing evaluations that capture incremental change, respond to backlash, and challenge gender-based discrimination, ensuring that MEAL is not just about measuring impact but actively contributing to feminist movements. This resource is designed for M&E professionals, feminist researchers, and development practitioners who seek to decolonize MEAL practices and create systems that are inclusive, reflexive, and socially just. It challenges conventional donor-driven approaches and offers alternative methodologies such as peer-led evaluations, participatory learning spaces, and ethical data collection that prioritize safety, agency, and the voices of those most affected by inequality. Feminist MEAL is not about ticking boxes—it is about reimagining how we document, learn, and act to dismantle systemic oppression and build a more just world.