Historical research: Gender, politics and ethics

This chapter outlines approaches to ‘doing’ historical research and the influence of feminist-inspired methodologies to excavate the past. It charts work within feminist historical geography that has pushed methodological boundaries in this area. Specifically, this chapter explores the practice of doing archival fieldwork and a range of ethical considerations that are often neglected. These methodological challenges are discussed in the context of reflexivity and other cornerstones of feminist-based work within the discipline. Overall, the chapter draws on several examples to illustrate current research and future trajectories in this area of scholarship and activism.