CHAPTER 13: Using Feminist Perspectives to Interrupt and Disrupt “Gender Neutrality” and Revolutionize Organizational and Policy Studies

Revolutionizing the fields of educational policy and organizational studies requires taking a revolutionary approach to policy and organizational research. This chapter aims to show the utility in using feminist perspectives to interrupt and disrupt the long-established practice of utilizing so-called “neutral” frameworks and data-collection tools in educational research endeavors. By taking a historical approach to understanding how we have studied policy and practice in educational leadership in the distant and not-so-distant past, we show how the gendering of policy and organizational studies holds promise to push the field forward in new and important ways. We also argue that the current trend of returning to “scientific” educational research is a type of backlash against feminist scholars that must be resisted to ensure a holistic appraisal of policy and organizational studies.