The focus group as a feminist method

In recent years use of focus group by female researchers has grown by leaps and bounds. Focus group does not suffer from gleaning information especially in unnatural situation while putting an emphasis on group interaction. It is considered less artificial too. Majorly the participants are sought from groups that are naturally occurring thus underpinning the lower level of artificiality of the method as participants can discuss situations that are similar and normal to each other. This facilitates better understanding that chime with the similar experiences of women.

To successfully study the individual within his/her social context is termed as decontexualisation and feminist prefer this method. Females emphasise on the self as relational or as socially constructed as the individual is an important part of a group in this method of focus group.

It has been observed that feminist researchers do not like methods that are exploitative in nature creating a power relationship between the female respondent and the female researcher. Such a risk is reduced to a larger extent in focus method since participants here are able to take over much of the instructions from the moderator. In fact participants could also modify the aims of the discussion to facilitate interest of the moderator.