In Murky Waters: Insights on Doing Feminist Research as Men in India

Recent feminist scholarship argues that men can and should conduct feminist research, guided by critical epistemological and political principles. Such participation is valued for producing knowledge grounded in strong objectivity in incorporating the male standpoint as another lens, while also enabling men to acknowledge the historico-moral responsibility tied to their gendered position, thereby becoming co-companions in knowledge production and feminist emancipation. In this context, drawing on ethnographic fieldwork in India and collective auto-ethnographic reflection, this article offers three insights. First, men’s resolve to engage in feminist research emerges when ingrained patriarchal mindsets are unsettled by education and, crucially, by lived interactions with women research subjects. Second, we examine the ethical dilemmas in such research, particularly access negotiated through a female associate, which raises questions of agency and epistemological ownership. Finally, we suggest strategies for disseminating findings beyond the field to further the feminist project.