Book Review: Title: Feminist Evaluation and Research: Theory and Practice
| Date | 01 September 2017 |
| Published date | 01 September 2017 |
| DOI | 10.1177/1035719X1701700307 |
| Subject Matter | Book Review |
44 Evaluation Journal of Australasia Vol 17 | No 3 | 2017
n Author
Edited by Sharon Brisolara, Denise Seigart and Saumitra SenGupta
n Publisher/year
The Guildford Press, 2014
n Extent/type
368 pages, paperback/hardcover/ebook
n Price
Price: AUS$84/NZ$86 paperback, AU$152/NZ$169 hardcover, AU$87/NZ$99 ebook from
Footprint Books which oers a 15% discount to AES members; phone 1300 260 090
(within Australia) or +61 2 9997 3973 (from outside Australia), email
info@footprint.com.au
or
visit the website
http://www.footprint.com.au
for the latest prices.
n ISBN
9781462515202 / 9781462515301 / 978146257909
Title: Feminist Evaluation and Research: Theory and Practice
BOOK REVIEW Evaluation Journal of Australasia Vol 17 | No 3 | 2017 | pp. 44–45
Feminist Evaluation and Research: Theory and Practice
(2014) edited by Sharon Brisolara, Denise Seigart
and Saumitra SenGupta traverses both national and
international terrains. This edited volume extends upon
the authors’ earlier publication Feminist Evaluation:
Explorations and Experiences (2002). There is fluidity
between feminist qualitative research and evaluation
that is clearly demonstrated in this book, specifically
the challenges that arise particularly when working in
a specific context with marginalised and/or minority
groups. Published by The Guilford Press, New York,
this text explores succinctly the theoretical and practical
implications experienced by the 16 evaluators (researchers)
using a feminist framework to inform their evaluation
design, method and praxis.
The book is organised into three sections. Each section
concludes with a chapter reflecting on key points, the
synergies and challenges raised in each chapter and the
significance for future practice. Part I: Feminist theory,
research, and evaluation consists of five chapters, with
a focus on feminist theory and a general overview of its
development and influence on research and evaluation
across time. On behalf of the editors, Sharon Brisola
extends an invitation to the reader to explore ‘a way of
seeing... that will shift worldview in powerful ways’ (p. 3).
This section also provides guidelines for clarifying aspects
relevant to the researcher and evaluator role, cultural and
ethical considerations and understandings of feminist
evaluation in the international development context.
The theoretical overview then segues into the practical.
Part II: Feminist evaluation in practice, presents a rich
and diverse range of case studies undertaken in national
and international contexts. These four chapters provide
the reader with a nuanced analysis of the challenges
and opportunities experienced in the detailed feminist
frameworks and approaches adopted in the varied contexts.
Each case study provides a tailored and useful suite of
resources to add to the practitioner’s evaluation toolkit.
The focus for Part III: Feminist research in practice, is
an extension of the previous section and complements
the previous chapters with an astute discussion relating
to ethics (Chapter 12 by Elaine Dietsch)—an area often
omitted in discussion yet central to feminist principles and
highly relevant to all evaluation and research practices.
The editors have well and truly achieved their goal to
‘add rich fodder to the evaluation field for discussion
and learning’ (p.viii). The incorporation of feminist
theory promotes the important discussion on feminist
methodologies in evaluation and research. The sharing
of feminist evaluation case studies has several significant
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