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Discusses how feminist researchers might use focus groups in their research in the future, and how the focus group method's potential could be realized in the future development of feminist research. The author uses existing research to illustrate how focus groups offer 2 key features considered essential in feminist research. First, focus groups are a contextual method: that is, they avoid focusing on the individual devoid of social context, or separate from interactions with others. Second, focus groups are a relatively non-hierarchical method: that is, they shift the balance of power away from the researcher and toward the research Ss. Other advantages of focus groups for feminist research include their use with minority groups, their potential as a tool for action research, and their value as a form of'consciousness-raising.'The author concludes that focus groups offer considerable potential for the future development of …