A feminist basis for participatory research: Knowledge, gender and participation, or the necessary dialogue for transformation.

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to answer the question about how the assumptions of participatory research born in Latin America in the 70s relate theoretically and methodologically to those of feminist research and epistemology developed from the 80s to support action-oriented participatory research with a gender perspective. The relevant question to be explored is, how does the feminist view and critique, base, complete and even transcend the innovative proposals of participatory research for transformation? Through a methodology based on a critical review of the main theoretical postulates of both types of research, I analyze how they share many perspectives: both are based on the rupture of the dichotomy between science and politics, propose the incorporation of new knowing subjects, defend a relational idea of ​​knowledge and value the possibilities offered by the link as a central unit of analysis, among other aspects. Further, and converging with participatory postulates that understand knowing as taking sides with a point of view or another, feminism also adds an ethical dimension to the political component and incorporates new values into the cognitive enterprise. The result of this critical review defends that only an inclusive dialogue between participatory and feminist contributions will greatly advance the explanatory and transformative potential of social research.