Women Researching in Africa : The Impact of Gender

This edited collection explores the lives, consequences and motivations of female researchers in Africa, giving unprecedented insights into how their gender—and sometimes their ethnicity and age—impacted on their research experiences, and how doing research in Africa affected them as women. Each contributor considers her place or position in the research process and provides a vivid portrait of that experience. Drawing on research findings from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Ghana, Guinea, Malawi, Uganda and other African countries, the book looks at gender and identity as a female researcher in Africa; relationships with 'others'; and unique methodological challenges for female researchers in Africa. With refreshing candour, each chapter challenges other researchers in Africa (both women and men), to integrate critical reflections of gender and diverse gendered field experiences into their work. __Women Researching in Africa__ will be of interest to students and scholars across a range of disciplines including development studies, anthropology, geography, gender studies and international studies. Foreword 5 Acknowledgements 9 Contents 11 Notes on Contributors 14 Abbreviations 18 1 Women Researching in Africa: The Impact of Gender 20 Introduction 20 Feminist Methods in Social Research 22 Research in Africa 23 Gender and Identity as a Female Researcher in Africa 26 Relationships with ‘Others’ 28 Methodological Challenges for Female Researchers in Africa 31 Why (Else) Should We Care About Gender in Africa? 34 Conclusion 38 References 39 Part I Gender and Identity as a Female Researcher in Africa 44 2 ‘Gone Native?’: Reflections of a Feminist Tightrope Walker’s Research on ‘Land Grabbing’ and the Dilemmas of ‘Fieldworking’ While Parenting 45 Introduction: Setting the Scene and Context 45 Situating Myself: Bringing My Research Persona Front-Stage 48 Re-positioning the Researcher vis-à-vis the Researched: The Backstage of Building a Non-exploitative and Decolonial Research Methodology 49 Negotiating Access: Pre-fieldwork Rehearsals and Logistics for the Field Performance 54 Getting On-Stage: Experiences From My Three ‘Fields’ 55 Multiple Role-Performance: The Dilemmas of Navigating Through My Different Research Identities According to the Setting While Trying to Get Backstage 57 The Final Curtain? Thoughts on Researching ‘The Others’ and Finding Yourself 62 References 64 3 Identity and Experience in Malawi: Challenges and Observations 69 Introduction 69 Methodological Framework 71 Fitting In? 73 Sticking Out 78 Conclusions 82 References 83 4 Navigating Gender Performance: Ethics and Culture in Researching Family Care for Cancer Patients in Ghana 86 Introduction 86 The Study 88 Femaleness, a Bi-dimensional Resource in Ethnography 89 Performances of Cultures of Femininity and Masculinity in Ghanaian Society 93 Positionality in the Field Research (Where I Stand) 95 Doing Housework 97 Practical Care 99 Emotional Care 99 Feminist Paradoxes, Personal Conflicts and Tensions 101 Discussion and Conclusion 103 References 105 5 When in Rome...: Navigating Decolonial Research as a Diasporic Black Woman 109 Introduction 109 A Few Words About Myself, the Diaspora and Belonging 110 Decolonising Research 113 (Decolonial) Principles 114 When in Rome, Do as the Romans... 116 Zambian Women, Coloured Girls 119 Final Reflections 121 References 124 6 Reflections on the Dilemmas of Feminist Fieldwork in Africa 125 Introduction 125 The Seven Dilemmas 128 Conclusion 139 References 140 Part II Relationships with ‘Others’ as a Female Researcher in Africa 145 7 Researching the Rural: A Mzungu Loose in Africa 146 Introduction 146 International Development: Gender, Power and Change 148 Development Field Research: The Practice and the Theory 150 The Practice 150 The Theory 154 Doing Good? 158 More Recent Reflections, Development Research Over 20 Years 160 Conclusion 162 References 163 8 Women and Anthropologists in West Africa: Comparing Two Research Experiences 167 Introduction 167 From Hostility to Complicity: The Long Path Towards Integration Among Guinean Fulani 170 ‘Anthropologists Always Land on Their Feet’: But What About Women Anthropologists? 176 Conclusions 181 References 183 9 Constant Questioning On-and-Off the Page: Race, Decolonial Ethics and Women Researching in Africa 185 Introduction 185 ‘Women Researching in Africa’ 187 Colonial Frictions and ‘Women Researching in Africa’ 191 Race and ‘Women Researching in Africa’ 197 On-and-Off the Page 200 Conclusion 202 References 203 10 Lessons Learned on Research Methods and Researcher Stance in Africa 207 Introduction 207 Crazy Beginner 209 Privilege 211 Learning the Ropes: Uganda 2010 216 Falling into the Same Hole: Uganda 2011 217 Making Progress—Uganda 2012 218 Participants? Friends? What Then? 220 International Inequality 222 Final Thoughts 223 References 225 Part III Methodological Challenges for Female Researchers in Africa 228 11 Challenges and Opportunities of Doing Fieldwork as a Woman on Women in Guinea 229 Introduction 229 Situating the Research 231 Problems of Access 233 Gendered Interactions 236 Discussing the Impacts of my Gendered Identities on my Research 239 References 243 12 On Walking Alone and Walking with Others: Framing Research Activities by Time and Distance in Kafa Zone, Ethiopia 247 Introduction 247 Maternal Health and Reducing Maternal Mortality in Ethiopia 248 Ethnography and Participant Observation 250 What Do I Know When I Am in Kafa Zone? 253 On Reflection 259 References 264 13 Gender and Positionality: Opportunities, Challenges, and Ethical Dilemmas in Ghana and Sierra Leone 268 Introduction 268 Position, Gender, and Intersectionality 270 Position and Gender 270 Intersectional Identities 274 Positionality and Ethical Considerations 275 Reinforcing Inequality? 275 Challenges for Informed Consent 279 Conclusion 280 References 282 14 Historiography of African Market Women 287 Introduction 287 Experiences as a Female Historian 289 Encounter with Professor Bolanle Awe 291 Writing Market Women into History 292 Mentorship Experiences 293 Archival and Library Encounters 294 Fieldwork in Ibadan Markets 297 Life Histories of Market Women: Two Generations of Traditional Textile Traders 298 Modern Textile Traders 300 Writing for Women’s Empowerment 303 Conclusion 304 References 306 15 Women Researching Africa: Linking Experience to Practice 309 Conclusions 318 References 319 Index 322 Front Matter ....Pages i-xx Women Researching in Africa: The Impact of Gender (Ruth Jackson, Max Kelly)....Pages 1-24 Front Matter ....Pages 25-25 ‘Gone Native?’: Reflections of a Feminist Tightrope Walker’s Research on ‘Land Grabbing’ and the Dilemmas of ‘Fieldworking’ While Parenting (Rama Salla Dieng)....Pages 27-50 Identity and Experience in Malawi: Challenges and Observations (Joanna Woods)....Pages 51-67 Navigating Gender Performance: Ethics and Culture in Researching Family Care for Cancer Patients in Ghana (Deborah Atobrah)....Pages 69-91 When in Rome...: Navigating Decolonial Research as a Diasporic Black Woman (Lioba Hirsch)....Pages 93-108 Reflections on the Dilemmas of Feminist Fieldwork in Africa (Tanya Lyons)....Pages 109-128 Front Matter ....Pages 129-129 Researching the Rural: A Mzungu Loose in Africa (Max Kelly)....Pages 131-151 Women and Anthropologists in West Africa: Comparing Two Research Experiences (Ester Botta Somparé, Mara Vitale)....Pages 153-170 Constant Questioning On-and-Off the Page: Race, Decolonial Ethics and Women Researching in Africa (Amber Murrey)....Pages 171-192 Lessons Learned on Research Methods and Researcher Stance in Africa (Jody McBrien)....Pages 193-213 Front Matter ....Pages 215-215 Challenges and Opportunities of Doing Fieldwork as a Woman on Women in Guinea (Carole Ammann)....Pages 217-234 On Walking Alone and Walking with Others: Framing Research Activities by Time and Distance in Kafa Zone, Ethiopia (Ruth Jackson)....Pages 235-255 Gender and Positionality: Opportunities, Challenges, and Ethical Dilemmas in Ghana and Sierra Leone (Vanessa van den Boogaard)....Pages 257-275 Historiography of African Market Women (Mutiat Titilope Oladejo)....Pages 277-298 Women Researching Africa: Linking Experience to Practice (Max Kelly, Ruth Jackson)....Pages 299-311 Back Matter ....Pages 313-317 This edited collection explores the lives, consequences and motivations of female researchers in Africa, giving unprecedented insights into how their gender--and sometimes their ethnicity and age--impacted on their research experiences, and how doing research in Africa affected them as women. Each contributor considers her place or position in the research process and provides a vivid portrait of that experience. Drawing on research findings from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Ghana, Guinea, Malawi, Uganda and other African countries, the book looks at gender and identity as a female researcher in Africa; relationships with 'others'; and unique methodological challenges for female researchers in Africa. With refreshing candour, each chapter challenges other researchers in Africa (both women and men), to integrate critical reflections of gender and diverse gendered field experiences into their work. Women Researching in Africa will be of interest to students and scholars across a range of disciplines including development studies, anthropology, geography, gender studies and international studies.-- Provided by publisher This edited collection explores the lives, consequences and motivations of female researchers in Africa, giving unprecedented insights into how their gender2014and sometimes their ethnicity and age2014impacted on their research experiences, and how doing research in Africa affected them as women. Each contributor considers her place or position in the research process and provides a vivid portrait of that experience. Drawing on research findings from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Ghana, Guinea, Malawi, Uganda and other African countries, the book looks at gender and identity as a female researcher in Africa; relationships with 'others'; and unique methodological challenges for female researchers in Africa. With refreshing candour, each chapter challenges other researchers in Africa (both women and men), to integrate critical reflections of gender and diverse gendered field experiences into their work. ?Women Researching in Africa will be of interest to students and scholars across a range of disciplines including development studies, anthropology, geography, gender studies and international studies." This edited collection explores the lives, consequences and motivations of female researchers in Africa, gicing unprecedented insights into how their gender - and sometimes their ethnicity and age - impacted on their research experiences, and how doing research in Africa affected them as women. Each contributor considers her place or position in the research process and provides a vivid portrait of that experience. -- back cover