Feminist research for social action

This article argues that feminist research in Haiti, far from being utopian because of the limited resources available, is to the contrary indispensable, as is its diffusion/vulgarisation. Women's battle for full citizenship is indissociably linked to an analysis of gender relations, without which they may be victim of policies - even those supposedly designed to help women - that perpetuate subordination and exploitation. The goals of feminist research have largely been dictated by the needs of the Movement which these researchers take part in. They have the opportunity to experience the difficulties of reconciling action and knowledge from within, to refuse the separation between object/subject of research, and to promote feminist ethics. However, this position also raises crucial questions: on the one hand, how best to make research an effective tool for action, on the other, how to avoid the pitfalls of activism.