Response to #1
When I am trying to find fulfilling sources, I first search for a keyword. Recently, in my other class, I wrote a paper on FGM and how to successfully dismantle the practice, in my opinion. I first searched “FGM”, and thousands of sources came upon the database. However, I would really need to sift through these to find the best articles of information. So, I then searched up “Ending FGM”. Here, I had about 15 sources standing. I made sure I filtered my results so that it would only show resources published within the last five years, which brought the number down to ten. This was perfect. I had a good number of resources that would have different points of view and opinions, which ended up perfectly complementing each other. It ended up being a very successful paper.
However, in the past, I have noticed that it is particularly hard to find an article that emphasizes a specific part of a subject. Usually, it is just the subject that is advertised. So, using other keywords alongside the subject you want to research has been proven very successful in my experience. I wanted to also see feministic points of view regarding FGM, so after I searched “ending FGM”, I searched “Feminism and FGM”. I used the same strategy as before and was given great results. Also, by making sure you filter the published dates of sources, you are able to more quickly find recent sources. Sometimes I find myself reading through an article that is very outdated, which ends up wasting some time if someone is not looking for an older source.
Response to #2
When it comes to creating research goals for myself, I really want to make sure that I include voices from all or most sides. This is the most successful way to get a point across, in my opinion. However, I am making sure that I certainly include the voices of those who are oppressed, and/or victims of discrimination and pre-conceived biases. For finding these voices, I will look through scholarly sources, however, I will really have to narrow down my search methods to find the first accounts and opinions of real people. I will try to use different keywords, generating a bigger result of sources. This way, if I do find personal accounts they may be able to complement each other, even if they are regarding completely different situations. This would make my research more successful because different scenarios would prove my point more.
I am focusing on the intersectional nature of oppression, and how unfair treatment towards those with disabilities, those who are minorities or are in the LGBTQ+ community, all are treated due to the same deep-rooted pre-conceived biases against those who are different. A lot of these circumstances work together, whether the majority of people know it or not. I really want to get to the bottom of how this social hierarchy all came to be and will do this by also finding sources that dive into the history of the mistreatment of power. When it comes to primary sources, the first idea that comes to mind is thinking of the conversations I have had in my Women and Gender Studies class. My professor is a part of the LGBTQ+ community and has told us many stories regarding their life and how they have been discriminated against since forever. They also have mentioned how it is all intersectional- that people for years have looked down upon anything that resonates with “other”. I am very excited to get started on this project and hope I am at a good start with brainstorming.
You raise a very important issue here, Kate–that it matters *who* is behind the sources we’re working with. That’s always been the case, of course (we need to think about people’s qualifications, their biases, their funding streams, etc.), but we also need to think about how those folks are situated (how they identify, how they’ve been marginalized or excluded, what kind of power they exercise or don’t within our society).
If we’re trying to assemble a truly diverse and representative body of sources, then we really do need to think about these authors as fully embodied humans. When we’re writing about marginalized groups, we need to make sure to make room for people who have been marginalized, so that we can hear *their* voices.