feminism week 9

8/3/2019 Feminism Week 9

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Feminism & PhilosophyFeminism & Philosophy

of Social Scienceof Social ScienceSY319 lecture 9SY319 lecture 9


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Some context Some context The social sciences emerged with a tendency toThe social sciences emerged with a tendency to

reproduce the closedreproduce the closed- -system model of scientificsystem model of scientificinquiryinquiry

Scientific methodScientific method Artificial circumstances Artificial circumstances Human agents are involved within simpleHuman agents are involved within simple

relationships that can be reduced to variablesrelationships that can be reduced to variables


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Patriarchal assumptions are often taken asPatriarchal assumptions are often taken asscientific factsscientific facts

Past:Past:Education (intellectual subjects upsetEducation (intellectual subjects upsetreproductive system)reproductive system)Health (women removedHealth (women removedfrom childbirth)from childbirth)

Present:Present:Criminological examplesCriminological examples

have identified stereotypicalhave identified stereotypicalassumptions (cunning, passive)assumptions (cunning, passive)

(Smith, 2003)(Smith, 2003)


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M oving on .M oving on .

Knowledge is situated within a historicalKnowledge is situated within a historicaland social locationand social location

Created throughCreated throughsocial constructionsocial construction


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3 main feminist epistemologies3 main feminist epistemologies

Feminist empiricismFeminist empiricism Feminist standpoint approachesFeminist standpoint approaches Feminist postmodernismFeminist postmodernism


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O ne broadO ne broad agreementagreement Western rationalWestern rational

knowledge is androcentric (male centred)knowledge is androcentric (male centred)

M ale dominated research has constructed theM ale dominated research has constructed thewomanwoman

O ften deemed women invisibleO ften deemed women invisible Implied their value was of little significanceImplied their value was of little significance

DisagreeDisagree on what this means, on howon what this means, on howknowledge should be constructed and on how toknowledge should be constructed and on how tochange this situationchange this situation


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G ender & EmpiricismG ender & Empiricism

Holds on to scientific method without beingHolds on to scientific method without beingandrocentricandrocentric

M ainstream social science is bad scienceM ainstream social science is bad sciencesimply because it incorporates patriarchalsimply because it incorporates patriarchalvalues & prejudicesvalues & prejudices

Need to increase the number of womenNeed to increase the number of womenwithin authoritative positionswithin authoritative positions


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G enerally, the problem with feministG enerally, the problem with feministempiricism is that empiricism calls for empiricism is that empiricism calls for objective knowledge, yet feministobjective knowledge, yet feministideologies claim objectivity is impossibleideologies claim objectivity is impossible

and the closest one can get to objectivityand the closest one can get to objectivityis simply to be free of biasis simply to be free of bias


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Feminist standpointFeminist standpoint

Need to identify the real social structures whichNeed to identify the real social structures whichneed to be changed firstneed to be changed first

The experiences of women are shaped throughThe experiences of women are shaped throughsocial relationships whichsocial relationships which

are oppressive , exploitativeare oppressive , exploitativeand dehumanizingand dehumanizing

Scientific traditions areScientific traditions arepart of the oppressive socialpart of the oppressive socialorder order


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However, the standpoint of the oppressed canHowever, the standpoint of the oppressed can

offer a more objective account of knowledge andoffer a more objective account of knowledge andsocial life (master/slave, bourgeoisie/proletariat)social life (master/slave, bourgeoisie/proletariat) Strong emphasis isStrong emphasis is

placed on the subjective,placed on the subjective,

personal experiences of personal experiences of everyday liveseveryday lives

a strong emphasis isa strong emphasis is

placed on the relationshipplaced on the relationshipbetween social structuresbetween social structuresand the way we think andand the way we think and

act within themact within them


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R ealismR ealism Links between R ealism & Standpoint feminismLinks between R ealism & Standpoint feminism

are strongare strong An existence of a reality independent of our An existence of a reality independent of our

thoughts and mindsthoughts and minds R ealism starts from the premise that there areR ealism starts from the premise that there are

real things . But, humans apply their ownreal things . But, humans apply their ownperceptions, justifications, ideas.perceptions, justifications, ideas.

R ealists attempt to identify the structuresR ealists attempt to identify the structuresthrough which events are understoodthrough which events are understood


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Employee / employer; parent, child;Employee / employer; parent, child;landlord and tenant are reallandlord and tenant are real

But, capitalists can only exist with theBut, capitalists can only exist with theexistence of workers; tutors can only existexistence of workers; tutors can only existwith studentswith students

Empiricists look at discrete variables.Empiricists look at discrete variables.R ealists look at complex structures andR ealists look at complex structures andmechanismsmechanisms


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To compare To compare

Whereas feminist empiricist research seeks toWhereas feminist empiricist research seeks toreform knowledge, standpoint approaches seeksreform knowledge, standpoint approaches seekssocial transformation and emancipationsocial transformation and emancipation

However, standpoint feministsHowever, standpoint feministsremain committed toremain committed toobjective knowledgeobjective knowledge

(the standpoint of the(the standpoint of theoppressed)oppressed)


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Empiricist FEmpiricist F one road to the truthone road to the truth scientific methodscientific method

Standpoint FStandpoint F patriarchy is a universalpatriarchy is a universal

feature within all social systems /feature within all social systems /subsequently, women have similar subsequently, women have similar experiencesexperiences

Postmodern FPostmodern F no single unitary methodno single unitary methodor universal basis for womens experienceor universal basis for womens experience


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Postmodern FeminismsPostmodern Feminisms

Strong emphasis on knowledge construction andStrong emphasis on knowledge construction andeveryday lives of men and womeneveryday lives of men and women

Everyday experiences are too complex for oneEveryday experiences are too complex for one

single modelsingle model

Whereas standpoint feminists would claim theWhereas standpoint feminists would claim thefamily as an institution to be oppressive,family as an institution to be oppressive,

postmodern feminists would claim that the familypostmodern feminists would claim that the familymight be a safe haven for black women livingmight be a safe haven for black women livingwithin a racist societywithin a racist society


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R ice, 1990R ice, 1990

How does the author suggest that theHow does the author suggest that therelationship between gender and ethnicityrelationship between gender and ethnicitypresents a problem for feminism?presents a problem for feminism?

Which of the three perspectives would you useWhich of the three perspectives would you useto address the needs that the author highlights?to address the needs that the author highlights?


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So, for postmodern feminists, the concepts of So, for postmodern feminists, the concepts of ideas, reason, progress & emancipation need toideas, reason, progress & emancipation need tobe replaced by pluralism, complexity, differencebe replaced by pluralism, complexity, difference& diversity& diversity

Attention should be directed towards sexism, Attention should be directed towards sexism,racism, ethnocentricism,racism, ethnocentricism,

classism, & heterosexismclassism, & heterosexism

involved in the formation of involved in the formation of gendered identitiesgendered identities


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feminism week 9

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