In contrast to Hardin's viewpoint, several social scientists (Reinharz 1992, Bloom

1998) think that a feminist method exists to address issues involving women. This

method, which "promises a more interpersonal and reciprocal relationship between

researchers and those whose lives are the focus of the research," is better able "to break

down barriers that exist among women as well as the barriers that exist between the

researcher and the researched" (Bloom 1998: 2-3). A particular facet of the feminist

method is that it is a "way to know something", and also a way to "change something" in

the sense that feminism seeks to overcome a particular situation of social inequality

(Armstead 1995, cited in Pini 2003: 419).

 My goal was to study a group of rural women and how a particular social process

has affected them. Therefore I was convinced that a feminist method is the most

appropriate approach to my study. Moreover, since the focus of my study was to

understand the output of a female social practice, using exclusively the viewpoint or

testimony of those women involved in such an experience, the most appropriate way to

obtain information was through interviews.

 Bloom (1998) said that interviewing is a central process to research relationships in

feminist methodology, particularly when the focus is on collecting personal narratives.

Furthermore, Reinharz (1992) said that the basis of feminist methodology is the

conviction that "for a woman to be understood in a social research project, it may be

necessary for her to be interviewed by a woman."

 Once I began fieldwork I had to become flexible enough to adapt my methodology

to the real situations I encountered. For example, it was not possible to formally

interview all of the women flower workers. By "formal" interview I refer to having a