Paper: Community Participation Reconsidered Feminist Participatory Action Research with Hmong Women

Community Participation Reconsidered

Feminist Participatory Action Research with Hmong Women

Mieko Yoshihama PhD, MSW & E. Summerson Carr MSW

Pages 85-103 | Published online: 22 Sep 2008

• Download citation https://doi.org/10.1300/J125v10n04_06

abstract content

ABSTRACT

This paper describes the process of planning, developing, and implementing a community-based project with Hmong women in a large Midwestern city. Combining action and research to forge relationships, identify common goals and garner resources, the Hmong Women's Project applied principles of both feminist and participatory action research (PAR). In light of the successes and challenges of this ongoing project, we critically evaluate the oft-encouraged goal of “maximum community participation” in PAR projects by questioning common definitions of “community” and “participation.” We argue that the parameters of what constitutes a “community” and what counts for “participation” are inherently unstable, requiring constant negotiation of ideas, values, identities and interests among all who participate in a PAR project.

/abstract content

Key Words: Community, participation, community-based research, feminist participatory action research, Hmong women