Researching Chinese Women's Lives: 'Insider' Research and Life History Interviewing

Liu, Jieyu

Abstract

Western sociologists and feminist researchers have extensively discussed qualitative research methodology. However, such methods are subject to local adjustments when they are applied in a non-western country. In this article I reflect upon my experience of collecting women's life histories in urban China, drawing attention to my position as an insider researcher, how I contacted interviewees and conducted interviews with two generations of women, and accounting for some specific features of the ways in which these Chinese women narrated their lives. I identify the ways in which specific social-cultural practices impacted upon my collection of life narratives and suggest that balancing western ideas and ethical approaches to qualitative research with local specificity is crucially important in such cross-cultural studies.

Citation

Liu, J. (2006). Researching Chinese Women's Lives: 'Insider' Research and Life History Interviewing. Oral History, 34(1), 43-52

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Apr 1, 2006
• Deposit Date: Jan 12, 2016
• Journal: Oral History
• Print ISSN: 0143-0955
• Publisher: Oral History Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 34
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 43-52
• Keywords: insider research, oral history, gender, China
• Publisher URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40179843?Search=yes&resultItemClick=true&searchText=jieyu&searchText=liu&searchText=oral&searchText=history&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Djieyu%2Bliu%2Boral%2Bhistory%26amp%3Bacc%3Don%26amp%3Bwc%3Don%26amp%3Bfc%