Looking back, looking within: reflections on a feminist research study: analysing the methodology of a tracer study based in rural Uttar Pradesh, India

In this short piece we will be reflecting on some methodological and ethical issues encountered while working on a study that sought to understand the long-term ‘impact’ of an educational programme that was conducted with rural women in northern India. We unpack here our internal contradictions as feminist practitioners-researchers in determining the research objectives and design: the tensions between trying to find ‘objective’ and universal impacts of education and literacy programmes and the importance of doing research that is more situated – the tension also between a self-conscious yet long and close relationship between research participants. Our methodology and ethical concerns are also refracted through the fact that we have been embedded in the context of the study and engaged with the subjects of research for over 15 years.