The International Conference Feminism as a Method: Feminist Epistemologies, Methodologies, and Methods in the Social Sciences will be held at the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences of the Scuola Normale Superiore, on November 14th and 15th. Organized by Anastasia Barone, Giada Bonu Rosenkranz, and Donatella della Porta, this event will bring together scholars from various countries and disciplines to explore the significance of feminist methodologies in the social sciences. The event will represent an occasion to share and discuss concrete research experiences as well as theoretical reflections about feminist approaches in the social sciences.

Many years have passed since Sandra Harding asked, “Is there a feminist method?” (1987). Since then, the pioneering works of feminist researchers such as Evelyn Fox Keller (1983, 1985), Donna Haraway (1988), Sandra Harding (1987, 1992), Adrienne Rich (1984), Patricia Hill Collins (1986), to mention a few, feminist epistemologies have been questioning the universality and neutrality of scientific and social research by providing a critical and situated approach, based on self-reflexivity, positionality and the critics to strong objectivity. This conference seeks to reflect on these advancements, examining contemporary research that addresses the questions raised by feminist methodologies.

Over two days, scholars will discuss diverse topics, including feminist approaches to studying far-right movements, the role of emotions and affect in social research, and the significance of positionality and self-reflexivity. Panels will also address identifying biases and taboos in traditional research methods, how feminist perspectives reshape digital research tools, and the implications of feminist methodologies within postcolonial and decolonial frameworks.

During the conference, keynote lectures will be delivered by two eminent scholars, Deborah B. Gould, Professor and Chair of Sociology at the UC Santa Cruz and Akwugo Emejulu, Professor of Sociology at the University of Sheffield.

The conference is organized under COSMOS and forms part of the activities of the FIRE – Working Group on Feminism, Intersectionality, and Gender.

(Anastasia Barone)