There are many different feminist theories in literature and there is no single way of revealing the understanding within feminist theories. The classifications may differ, for example, Flynn's (1995) work which points out to the existence of liberal, radical, cultural and poststructuralist sectors. But for the purposes of this study, I rely more on two feminist perspectives, namely feminist post structural theory and critical feminist theory.
The combination I choose will serve my purpose better as it is a synthesis of approaches to allow the research to benefit from each of the frameworks as outlined in Hammersley, (1995) and Jayaratne and Steward (1991). What has been seen as too simplistic, sterile and no longer holding debate is emphasized by the works that suggest that when different frameworks are employed they complement each other if they are used with care, in relation to their strengths and weaknesses.
4.2.1 Feminist post structural theory
The feminist post structural theory concerns itself with the observation that the individual is constantly confronted with conflicts within processes that are constructed within
existing power relations (Pierre, 2000 and Weedon, 1997). The feminist notion of the poststructuralist concern is better explained by Weedon who portrays the multiple nature of positions within which discourses are found as a way that gives voice to socially constructed meaning (Weedon, 1997). The experiences that individuals get into,are seen as situated
In expanding experiences of individuals within society, it is important to observe that inside discursive spaces where language, social structures, subjectivity and power relate, and produce opposing ways of allocation of meaning to subjectivity (Jackson, 2001).
The ways in which young women's pregnancy is understood depend on the meaning as allocated by society.
Put differently, as individuals interact with different discursive fields, certain values become deeply held and seeded such that the meanings that they make out of life become constant fields of conflict.
Entrenched in the different young women's discourses there is evidence of meanings that are made out from many spheres but exclude the experience of the young women in decision-making processes. The result of the undertaking is that the societal involvement and social interactions are normally neglected or discarded in relation to young women's pregnancy. The implication is that society constructs certain ways of being and the young woman is expected to fit into the mould. The outlook forgets that in the path of growing up there are negotiations with the world and those who share the spaces. Those in power, such as teachers, parents and policy makers, socially construct the discursive spaces within which the young women live.
In the application of feminist post structural theory to trainee teachers, the study found that there is need to engage with power relations,discourse, experience, and subjectivity such that there is proof that the straight version of experience does not exist. What subsist are negotiated paths and routes which are locally and specifically tailored and that are interpreted in varied ways (Jackson, 2001). In agreement, Harraway observes that the politicized nature of interpretations and meaning making is engineered by power. The
Karabo Mokobocho-Mohlakoana Chapter Four: The Theoretical Inclination of theStudy
discourses and the interpretations that are powerful inherit their status from societal interactions (Harraway, 1988).
Along with this recognition, I concur with the post structural theorists in the view that the spaces individuals occupy are fluid and highly influenced by and through context. The ideas are closely linked to the critical feminist perspective that I engage with next.
4.2.2 Critical Feminist Theory
Closely related to post structural feminist theory is the critical feminist theory. Critical theory generally bases its assumptions on the value that issues are socially constructed.
The value positions are the tools through which the different ways of interpretations are measured (Giroux, 1992). In support of the theory, there is observation that human beings, through interactions with each other, become bound by norms and ways of doing that exist within a particular context. The two share similarities as the perspectives suggest that experiences and all thinking emanates from power relations that are socially mobilized. In addition, the perspective observes that individuals occupy often conflicting and mobile spaces. As a result, individuals do not have any fixed identities (Kincheloe and McLaren, 1994).
Applied to the study on experiences of pregnancy by young women, the two theories question the notion of generalized versions of individuals within varied contexts. Since experiences emanate from and are highly influenced by interpretation there is need to be open-minded. Being open-minded will in turn lead to acceptance of multiple, shifting truths about what is known and how it is known. There is no fixed truth, even for one individual, as spaces that people occupy seem to shift many times.
4.2.3 Drawing from feminist theories broadly
In trying to understand the experiences of young women's pregnancy and its interaction with schooling in the Lesotho context, I engaged the above approaches. In order to facilitate this understanding, I set out to answer the questions for the study by situating
myself around feminist theory SInce it allowed multiple ways of understanding phenomena and places women at the center of understanding.
Feminist theory has been a valuable tool that has moved beyond traditional research by the active removal of power imbalances between the researcher and the researched.
Feminist theory is also motivated by the political intent to change oppressive situations while it begins with women's lived experience. Feminist theorizing acknowledges the active role of the researcher as the mould that shapes the research through the beliefs and values that are eminent in the researcher.