Navigating an Unfamiliar Terrain: Reflections on Feminist Research Methodology in the Study of Filipino Deaf Gay Men

This article contributes to the growing body of knowledge on feminist research methodology by providing a comprehensive account of my experiences examining the lived realities of Filipino Deaf gay men employed in the private sector. I recounted how the study was carried out during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and reflected on the strategies I implemented to navigate the complexities of the data collection process. Specifically, this paper examines practical and ethical issues I faced in nine key areas: (1) recruiting the study participants, (2) developing the research instruments, (3) providing reasonable accommodation, (4) building rapport online, (5) obtaining informed consent, (6) conducting feminist in-depth interviews, (7) practicing duty of care, (8) ensuring confidentiality, and (9) implementing data validation, analysis, and presentation. By explicitly writing these experiences, I hope to provide practical insights for feminist scholars interested in investigating the lived experiences of Deaf gay men in the Philippines. Moreover, I seek to contribute to critical discussions on feminist research methodology during a pandemic,
potentially enriching local and global sociological scholarship.