Men researching women’s experiences of sexism and discrimination: An impossible position?

This chapter explores the tensions and contradictions in men researching women’s experiences of diversity initiatives. We analyze the challenges encountered during data collection, analysis, and presenting/publishing, in a qualitative, feminist, study of quota implementation. We account for the ontological and epistemological situatedness that research of this kind involves and shows how the project developed over time in recognition of these issues, in both practical and theoretical senses. In doing this we also engage with the question of whether it is possible for men to be involved in feminist research, subjectively and politically. We conclude by suggesting that diversity research is best advanced through including all voices, including those that speak from positions of privilege, if reflexivity is required of those speakers.