Final answer:
Ann Oakley suggests that qualitative interviewing should embody a feminist research method by creating an equal partnership between interviewer and interviewee. This approach prioritizes women's narratives and challenges historical power imbalances in research.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ann Oakley advocates that qualitative interviewing should be an explicitly feminist research method by fostering a relationship between the interviewer and interviewee that is based on equal footing. Traditional methods in social science have been criticized for objectifying women and perpetuating a male-centric perspective. In contrast, feminist research methods like those proposed by Oakley aim to situate women's experiences at the center of inquiry, honoring their narratives and perspectives without imposing academic interpretations or treating them as mere objects of study.
Adopting a feminist approach to qualitative research encourages an understanding of the symbolic worlds of women, which aligns with the symbolic interactionist perspective. It avoids the pitfalls of traditional methodologies that may overlook or distort women's voices and experiences. Oakley's call for a feminist approach underscores the need for mutual respect, empathy, and collaboration between the researcher and the participants. The emphasis is on genuine dialogue that values women's contributions and seeks to understand them within their own sociocultural contexts, challenging longstanding power imbalances in the realm of research.