ABSTRACT

This book explores ‘difficult conversations’ in feminist theory as an integral part of social and theoretical transformations.

Focusing on intersectionality within feminist theory, the book critically addresses questions of power and difference as a central feminist concern. It presents ethical, political, social, and emotional dilemmas while negotiating difficult conversations, particularly in terms of sexuality, class, ‘race’, ethnicity and cross-identification between the researcher and researched. Topics covered include challenging cultural relativism; queer marginalisation; research and affect; and feminism and the digital realm.

This book is aimed primarily at students, lecturers and researchers interested in epistemology, research methodology, gender, identity, and social theory. The interdisciplinary nature of the book is aimed at reaching the broadest possible audience, including those engaged with feminist theory, anthropology, social policy, sociology, psychology and geography.

section Section 1|51 pages

Difficult knowledge

chapter 2|12 pages

Facing uneasiness in feminist research

The case of female genital cutting 1

chapter 3|11 pages

Feminism and race in academia

An interview with Sandya Hewamanne

section Section 2|69 pages

Gender, power and intimacy

chapter 5|27 pages

Difficult research effects/affects

An intersectional-discursive-material-affective look at racialised sexualisation in public advertising

chapter 6|12 pages

Calling out and piling on

Deliberation and difficult conversations in feminist digital social spaces

chapter 7|11 pages

Interviewing with Intimacy

Negotiating Vulnerability and Trust in Difficult Conversations

chapter 8|17 pages

Co-existing with uncomfortable reflexivity

Feminist fieldwork abroad during the pandemic

section Section 3|57 pages

Gender, sexuality and embodiment

chapter 9|11 pages

Sexing in the cities

Sex, desire, and sexual health of black township women who love women

chapter 10|15 pages

Researching sex

Gender, taboos and revealing the intimate

chapter 11|13 pages

Building a community of trust

Participatory applied theatre workshop techniques for difficult conversations on consent

chapter 12|16 pages

Women's experiences of marital rape in Turkey

Ethics, voice and difficult conversations

section Section 4|65 pages

Bounded knowledge