Feminist epistemology suggests the need for a reconceptualisation of autobiography and biography. The article is autobiographical in that it draws upon the experiences of the writers. It is ...specifically concerned with their personal biographies regarding their academic development and their experience of feminist qualitative research within sociology. It is concerned to show how doing feminist research involves weaving the stories of both the researcher and the researched, and also how the lives of 'significant others' are part of any completed piece. Each experience of research is different. This means that the researcher's autobiography has a different place among the biographies of the researched, depending on the individuals involved and the nature of the research topic. Consideration is given to the problems of including the researcher's autobiography in the fieldwork and publication stages. The research experience prompts not only a re-evaluation of the past, but also alters the personal biographies of the future for all those involved. Attention to these issues clearly shows that autobiography and biography are relevant to a wide variety of work and should be central to a sociological approach.
Drawing on empirical data from research of maternal relationships between affinal women, concepts of obligation and altruism in relation to short- and long-term childcare services provided by ...paternal grandmothers are examined. While grandmotherhood is welcomed as a positive and enjoyable experience by middle-aged women, it is not seen as an opportunity to resume mothering or to repeat the more demanding aspects of childcare. Some evidence is offered that paternal grandmothers, at least, do not wish to provide long-term support for working mothers other than in exceptional circumstances and only then with reluctance. The assumptions that all family women are naturally altruistic and prepared to subordinate their own interests in support of each other are questioned.
This paper draws on empirical data from research on maternal relationships between affinal women. It examines concepts of obligation and altruism in relation to short- and long-term childcare ...services provided by paternal grandmothers. Whilst grandmotherhood is welcomed as a positive and enjoyable experience by middle-aged women, it is not seen as an opportunity to resume mothering or to repeat the more demanding aspects of childcare. This paper offers some evidence that paternal grandmothers, at least, do not wish to provide long-term support for working mothers, other than in exceptional circumstances and only then with reluctance. The views expressed here question assumptions that all family women are 'naturally' altruistic and prepared to subordinate their own interests in support of each other.
Feminist epistemology suggests the need for a reconceptualization of autobiography and biography. An autobiography is presented that draws upon the experiences of the writers. A concern with their ...personal biographies regarding their academic development and their experience of feminist qualitative research within sociology is explored. It is shown how feminist research involves weaving the stories of both the researcher and the researched, and also how the lives of significant others are part of any completed piece. Each experience of research is different. This means that the researcher's autobiography has a different place among the biographies of the researched, depending on the individuals involved and the nature of the research topic. Consideration is given to the problems of including the researcher's autobiography in the fieldwork and publication stages. The research experience prompts not only a re-evaluation of the past, but also alters the personal biographies of the future for all those involved.
