4. Thematic analysis
4.3. Analyzing the contents of themes
Initially, the objective of this study was to explore how perceptions of the implementation of gender equality goals have changed since the Finnish - Namibian partnership transformed in 2007. So far in this point of analysis, I discovered that the informants did not often signify practical ways of implementing gender equality goals. The interviewees worked at such a high level, that their daily encounters did not happen on a grassroots level with local Namibians; applying equality objectives happened mostly in political dialogues with Namibian public servants and politicians. The focus of the study had changed the latest at this point in the analysis, and I concentrated on experts’ ways to signify gender in their speech, in addition to perceptions of equality of gender.
Hirsjärvi and Hurme (2015, pp.149-152) suggest that in qualitative analysis, the researcher makes inductive level observations in the descriptive phase and classification of the material.
I followed the order and proceeded to the more interpretative stage. I moved to the deductive phase, to connect classes and main themes with previous studies that I read simultaneously.
(Hirsjärvi and Hurme, 2015, pp.149-152.) After this, I began to interpret informants’
citations within each theme that were selected after the data reduction, while forming the four main themes: Finnish country promotion, communication and impact, development policy priorities and changes, a realization of equality between Finland and Namibia and Equal rights and opportunities of women.
Eskola and Suoranta (1998, pp.129-130) suggest that the results of the thematical analysis are sometimes presented only as a collection of quotations, but deeper analysis might be missing. For that reason, I aimed to analyze how all informants speak about subclasses under the four main themes. I collected each citation under the same subtheme, which are Welfare state model, Expertise on equality, gender mainstreaming, Changes in speaking about gender equality within development policies, Gendered labor markets, Needs and actions for empowerment, and gender, sex, and sexuality. It was slightly challenging to find connectedness between each theme to conclude the analysis since theoretical framing consists of four separate parts: Discussion on equality – difference, similarity, and diversity,
welfare state model and evolution of equality, pioneering country of equality, and lastly heteronormativity in development.
A feminist epistemology was common for all four theoretical approaches. Therefore, the approach of the analysis looks up the position of women. For feminist methodologies, it is essential to question gender and its relation to power structures in society. Albeit, feminism is diverse; a universal common goal does not exist (Ramazanoglu and Holland, 2002, pp.4-7.) Interviewees’ ways to speak about gender are analyzed by finding linkages to three different ways to perceive gender: similarity, difference, or diversity. These approaches were found from each interview besides the other theoretical approaches.
Gender as similarity was typical for the second wave liberal, and socialist feminists, whereas gender as a difference between men and women was part of the discourses of radical feminists. Post-modern feminists perceive gender as diverse and recognize varying positions of men, women and everything in between. (Kuusipalo, 2002; Squires, 1999, pp.116-122.) An informant signifies the importance of considering equality matters more broadly in the quotation from the first interview:
That we think about these equality matters more broadly, that from the viewpoint of the most disadvantaged, and particularly then when we go to developing countries and people with disabilities ... especially disabled girls and women are in especially vulnerable position, insofar greater attention to gender, disability and equality as such are essential.
Mietittäs näitä tasa-arvoasioita laajemmin, et kaikkein heikommassa asemassa olevien kannalta, et erityisesti sitte ku mennään kehitysmaihin niin vammaiset…varsinkin vammaiset tytöt ja naiset ovat erityisen heikossa asemassa et sikäli sukupuolen, vammaisuuden ja tasa-arvon laajempi huomioiminen niin niin, on oleellista. 3
(Interview 1)
Quotation in the first interview illustrates the separation of gender equality in the interview, and refers to the perception of gender as a diverse category. The position of girls and women is determined by their disability and country of origin, for instance. This quotation is part of the seventh chapter Labour markets and empowerment of women, and under a subheading:
3 Interview quotation from the research data. See Chapter 4.2., page 25 in this research.
Needs and actions for empowerment. As an example, I collected other citations that approached empowerment trough diversity of gender and compared them together, to form an idea of how experts spoke about gender within a particular context. Through that, I can see the results of my analysis and understand how the informants perceive equality.
In the deeper analysis, I faced another challenge. Sometimes the interviewees gave vague responses. The experts gave hints of knowledge of their understanding when they presented certain examples. Alastalo and Åkerman (2010, p.323) highlight that in the analysis of expert interviews it is important to avoid using insinuating comments as a basis of factual description. Since I chose thematic analysis as a method, it was beneficial to focus deeper on the comments under selected themes, that did not consist of too much insinuation.
Overall, my aim in the analysis was to be as open and truthful as possible. Yet still acknowledging my position as a Finnish female student with my suppositions and perceptions of equality and gender and tried not to make presumptions based on comments which were indefinable.
In conclusion, the informants gave a lot of material for analysis despite sometimes vague, or very general levels of speech sometimes. Even if they spoke about their personal experiences and understanding related to phenomena long time ago, they were informative and spoke in their own words, as they were asked. I faced a difficult, yet positive situation: I had to strongly frame my material and leave several themes and subclasses out to guarantee the cohesion and convenience regarding the research question. In the cover letter that was sent in the interview invitation, the interviewees were promised that research material will be removed when the study is complete. On another occasion, research material would have been interesting to save and use for further research.