Considering more feminist participatory research: What’s congruency got to do with it? Qualitative Inquiry

The article proposes that there cannot be truly emancipatory participatory research or participatory research advocates without explicit incorporation of feminist perspectives. As part of the larger dialogue regarding taking sides through research, the author asks us to consider a more feminist participatory research. The basis of her argument relates to issues of ontological congruency. After defining feminism(s), the article briefly identifies the androcentric and incongruous aspects of participatory research. It con-cludes with specific areas for discussion if we are to consider more feminist participatory research. Any reflections on the purposes of quality human inquiry (Reason, 1996 [this issue]) immediately push us to consider the processes of that inquiry. Such reflections challenge us to consider how congruent our knowledge creation purposes are with our knowledge creation processes. How congru-ent are our purposes and ways of knowing with our purposes and ways of behaving, not only inside the research endeavor but outside the research endeavor in the many circles of our relationships? As we continue in this special issue, the long-time discussion on &dquo;taking sides&dquo; through research (Becker, 1970; Mills, 1961), let us push ourselves further. When we each know whose side we are on, we still have to consider how to demonstrate those allegiances in our human inquiry processes as well as in our daily lives and work. I do not presume to address that issue in total. Instead, in this article, I share some of my wonderings about more feminist participatory research. How might considering more feminist participatory research help emancipa-tory participatory research (PR), its practices, and advocates be more congru-ent with participatory research’s transformative intentions? I intend only to highlight issues for our ongoing dialogue about quality human inquiry. My introduction to traditional social science research came as an object of others ’ research. At the university during the 1960s, I was required as