Environmentalist protection: feminist methodology and participant risk for research with Chinese NGOs

Environmentalism has emerged as an arena in which Chinese civil society has become increasingly active, with influence potential still unimaginable in other areas. While the political sensitivity of environmental research and safety concerns for environmentalist participants have certainly dissipated somewhat since the 1990s, ethical considerations remain crucial for my research on Chinese non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and corporate environmental responsibility. The relative legitimisation of NGOs presents a new dilemma for contemporary fieldwork; participatory methods and publication of findings may affect – for better or worse – the activities and results of organisations and members. This article examines how methodological approaches affect researcher positionality and participant risk for environmentalist fieldwork in China. Reflecting on interviews in Beijing, Yunnan and Zhejiang during 2015 and 2016, it presents feminist techniques as one means to reconcile the tension between the academic urge to more deeply understand participants’ experiences and the ethical desire to avoid impacting their safety or organisational activities. Building on Harding’s [(1987). Feminism and methodology: Social science issues. Bloomington: Indiana University Press] ‘standpoint’ epistemology and Worell and Etaugh’s [(1994). Transforming theory and research with women. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 18, 443–450] feminist interviews, I propose extension beyond explicit gender research, and critically reflect on power and exploitation. Insights from fieldwork with environmentalists in China may support contextualised application of feminist methodologies to reduce participant risk in broader politically sensitive areas.