Embodying feminist research: learning from action research, political practices, diffractions and collective knowledge.

In the past three decades, feminists and critical theorists have discussed and argued the importance of deconstructing and problematizing social science research methodology in order to question normalized hierarchies concerning the production of knowledge and the status of truth claims. Nevertheless, often, these ideas have basically remained theoretical propositions not embodied in research practices. In fact there is very little published discussion about the difficulties and limits of their practical application. In this paper we introduce some interconnected reflections starting from two different but related experiences of embodying 'feminist activist research'. Our aim is to emphasise the importance of attending to process, making mistakes and learning during fieldwork, as well as experimenting with personalized forms of analysis, such as the construction of narratives and the story-telling process

Feminisms and activisms: reflections on the politics of writing and the editorial process

This article addresses the questions and dilemmas that each of us has brought to the project. It traces their modulation, refinement and manifestation as they became part of a shared creative dynamic and thus subject to our personal experience and reflection thereon. The initial idea was to produce one text with multiple voices, yet considering our theoretical diversity, the geographical distance between us and the short time at hand we realized this, for the moment, was a too ambitious project. Hence as a tribute to the diversity of our perspectives and reflecting the actual dilemma of seeking to "speak in one powerful voice" while allowing heterogeneity, this article presents itself as a tentative pastiche of our four distinct yet overlapping and intersecting contributions

Experiencias fronterizas y efectos de las movilidades sociales y de clase

En el contexto actual de estructuración social organizada alrededor de la estratificación de los grupos sociales en una realidad de tránsitos continuos; la superación de la definición del sujeto «mujer» ha sido fundamental para lograr comprensiones sociológicas menos restrictivas. Sin embargo, las movilidades y los tránsitos, cuando impuestos, se acompañan frecuentemente por la experiencia de una precariedad emocional y vivencial aún poco estudiada. En este texto, se analizan algunos efectos de la condición fronteriza que experimentan algunas mujeres que tratamos de ejemplificar a través del relato de vida de Frida, cuya posición social experimenta una movilidad ascendente gracias a sus estudios y a su activismo político. Sus vivencias, no obstante, quedan muy marcadas por habitar al mismo tiempo mundos diferentes: clases sociales, géneros, identidad nacional, poseer/ser poseída, capitalismo/activismo. A través del análisis de su experiencia y del diálogo con la teoría, proponemos profundizar en los efectos de la interacción entre elementos vitales más estructurales (lugar de proveniencia, antecedentes familiares) y contingentes (experiencias de socialización primaria y secundaria, presiones sociales generizadas), así como la vivencia de habitar en espacios simbólicos fronterizos.In the current context of a social structure organized around the stratification of social groups in a reality of continuous transits, overcoming the definition of woman and womanhood has been central to achieving a less restrictive sociological understanding of subjects. However, imposed mobilities and transits are often accompanied by the experience of emotional and existential precariousness that are still poorly studied. In this paper, we analyze some effects of the borderline condition experienced by women. We illustrate them through the story life of Frida, a woman who experienced upward social mobility through her studies and political activism, across a life trajectory that straddled different worlds: social class, gender, national identity, possessing/being possessed, and capitalism/activism. Through the analysis of her experience and a dialogue with theories, we further investigate the effects of the interaction between both structural (place of origin, family background) and contingent (experiences of primary and secondary socialization, gendered social pressures) vital elements on the experience of living on symbolic borderlines

RETAILERS OFF OUT OF DATE FOOD: A PRELIMINARY SURVEY OF MEAT AND MEAT PRODUCTS

Is reasonable not to eat any out of date foods. If you eat foods with a use by date which has expired, then you are actually running the risk of food poisoning. Some people may assert eating out of date food the risk is actually very low. Sometimes food may actually be a risk when it looks, smells and even tastes ok, but there could be harmful bacteria lurking unseen and undetectable to the taste buds and nose. So it is always best to err on the side of caution

Cuestionando la perspectiva de género en la investigación

La promoción de la igualdad de género en la investigación y la innovación es uno de los compromisos de la Comisión Europea, que insta a la integración explícita de la perspectiva de género en los proyectos Horizonte 2020. Sin embargo, esta recomendación frecuentemente se entiende y se aplica de una forma insuficiente. Desde el SIMReF (www.simref.net), hace años que estamos trabajando para evidenciar la necesidad y las ventajas de incorporar una visión de género y feminista en todo el proceso de la investigación. Además, continuamente establecemos redes con grupos que tienen líneas de metodología y de género como Copolis (www.ub.edu/copolis). La Unidad de Género de la Universidad de Barcelona nos ha invitado a diseñar e impartir el taller «¿Por qué y cómo llevar a cabo investigación en perspectiva de género?», por lo que nos hemos visto en la necesidad de crear un nuevo material en forma de preguntas para empezar a reflexionar sobre nuestras investigaciones. En este breve artículo, tras una introducción sobre las propuestas de la epistemología, las necesidades y las ventajas de la inclusión de la perspectiva de género y feminista en la investigación, presentamos las recomendaciones legales al respecto y, para acabar, compartimos unas preguntas de autoevaluación de la investigación elaboradas para el curso

A comparison of Australian and European Union research performance profiles

"Governments worldwide face the challenge of how best to prioritise their international science and innovation (S&I) cooperation activities. This involves balancing the intrinsic benefits that may arise from international S&I cooperation with extrinsic considerations – diplomacy, trade, national security etc. The interplay of these intrinsic and extrinsic considerations means that complex and often ambiguous tradeoffs need to be addressed by policymakers. In some cases international S&I cooperation priorities will reflect extrinsic diplomatic and geopolitical goals. In other cases the objectives will relate more closely to balancing the costs, risks and benefits of particular bilateral and multilateral S&I cooperation opportunities. Given the limited financial resources available to support international S&I cooperation it is useful for policymakers to have access to appropriate decision-support tools and information. This should help to avoid wasteful resource allocations caused by a lack of access to relevant information.This paper seeks to contribute to the evolving policy framework in this area by considering ways of characterising and mapping international imbalances in research performance." - page 2Australian National Universit