Taking up postcolonial feminism in the field: Working through a method

SynopsisEthnographic research is underpinned by theoretical perspectives that guide the ways data are collected and analyzed. Researchers typically engage in data collection, however, as research projects increase in size and complexity, the solo researcher in the field is often replaced by research assistants (RAs). The aim of this paper is to explore the complexities that arise from this situation. We reflect, critically, on the challenges of ‘translating’ the theoretical perspective of this study postcolonial feminism (or PCF) in the field through the RAs. We examine how the incorporation of PCF into pre-existing interpretive frameworks by RAs was an iterative dialogic process that required significant engagement from all members of the team. While our research processes led to transformations among all team members, here we focus on the transformational processes of RAs. We conclude that there is much to be gained from the inclusion of RAs as active members of a research team.