‘Evaluating an Empowering Research Strategy: Reflections on Action-Research with South Asian Women’

Anti-racist sociology, feminist sociology and action-research share a concernwith empowerment of ‘the researched’. A review and critique of the concept ofempowerment in anti racist, feminist and action research is used to argue forthe use of Strauss's ‘paradigm’ for study of the negotiation of power in theresearch process. Power negotiations are discussed in relation to a reflexivecase study of an action- research project which worked alongside South Asianwomen in Glasgow. The case focuses on the project set up, which was aimed atintrinsic empowerment, then on the community action which tried to respond tolocal concerns, and finally on the experiences of two researchers in theproject. In conclusion, it is argued that empowerment, rather than anunquestioned, universally desirable goal, remains an issue for continuingdebate.