Chapter 35 - Standpoint Theory Flashcards
Standpoint
A place from which to critically view the world around us. Synonym viewpoint, outlook, perspective, position
Basic Idea of Standpoint Theory
The world looks different from different angles
Factors that Impact One’s Standpoint
How raised, religion, experience, company, social norms, politics, gender, sexual orientation, where raised, media, cultural expectations, class, race
Strong Objectivity
Harding’s research shows that the perspective of the less powerful is often more reliable than that of the wealthy/powerful
Why are the perspectives (standpoints) of women and other minorities likely to be less false or more objective?
1) Those on subordinate status are motivational to understand why things are as they are. 2) They have little reason to defend that status quo (to adopt the preferred, hegemonic reading)
As with Genderlect Styles:
Gender (masculine, feminine) seen as a cultural construction, not a biological characteristic (male/female)
Wood:
While all people seek autonomy and connectedness, the degree of preference is different by gender
Male Privilege
A collection of advantages enjoyed by men in most societies
Harding:
The social group that frames issues and concepts has great influence over how those things are percieved
Reminder:
Although we can identify patterns, neither women nor men are a monolithic group - they don’t all share same standpoint
Local Knowledge
Postmodern idea of knowledge situated in time, place, experience, and relative power, as opposed to the modernist idea of Truth and knowledge that is objective and value-free
Wood (2):
We can identify “reality” and find common ground, but there is no possibility o fan unbiased perspective. “Situated knowledge” may be partial, but it’s the only kind there is
4 Ways Black Women Validate What they Know
1) Lived experience. 2) Use of dialogue to test ideas. 3) Ethic of caring [“it takes a village”]. 4) Ethic of personal accountability (knowledge is tried to character, values).
