Ethical considerations

Informed consent: All the women who participated as contact women for their programs received complete written and verbal information about the exploratory research that led up to the project proposal, the structure of the sponsoring organization, the methodological framework for the research design, and some anticipated effects of the research (including the expectation that women would experience personal, professional, and political change). At each step of the research, they were consulted about the process.

At the program level, the contact women agreed to inform everyone involved in their woman-positive activity that they were participating in the research, The coordinating researchers facilitated that process until those involved did understand the extent to which the research would involve them or their work.

All the contact women signed consent forms approving the publication of materials that they had written, or that included edited quotes from their interviews or journals, or materials that referred to their participation in the national workshops.

Confidentiality: All conversations and writing between contact women and the coordinating researchers were confidential. Women had the opportunity to read the transcripts of their taped interviews and change, add, or delete information. Women approved all the journals that were edited for distribution.

All women had the opportunity to read and comment on any project documentation that contained information about them. They had the option of having their names and/or identifying information removed from material. They had the option of using a pseudonym.

All women agreed that published information could be used by anyone, but private or group discussions would not be used in a way that women could be identified unless previous agreement had been obtained. Tapes were stored at the home of the coordinating researchers until the project ended, at which time they were erased.

Right to stop the tape recorder or transcription: Women had the right to stop the tape recorder at any point during the two interviews. They had the right to ask that particular material on the tapes not be transcribed. They had the right to put limits on the use of material contained within the transcripts.

Right to withdraw or negotiate participation: Women had the right to withdraw from the research at any point or to negotiate how their participation might continue.

Feedback process: Throughout the research, women received public material . produced by others before the third workshop so that they could provide feedback. We agreed that no woman would be required to change her interpretation of an event because another woman involved in that event had a different interpretation. However, any and all differing interpretations would be included in the body of the text.

Participating in pairs: A research design that facilitates women participating in partnership with another woman of their choice provides support for both women when the increased awareness and insight initiated by reflection and analysis results in changes that may be disruptive as well as rewarding. It provides support for issues and concerns that may need to be addressed around the research process or the content of the interviews, workshops, or documentation. It also increases the possibilities for movement into collective action or structural change on a political and/or program level.