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Reflection on epistemology
Epistemology essay
Feminist epistemology essay
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Epistemology is commonly known as theory of knowledge. It is a discussion about how we get knowledge. Epistemology refers to the ways of knowing that form systems of social thought (Andersen, 1993). The idea about this term emphasizes that knowledge is socially constructed and that kind of thinking are embedded in a variety of assumption either implicit or explicit that guide their shape and form. Meanwhile, feminist epistemology recognized a woman’s lived as legitimate sources of knowledge. Feminist theory usually uses feminist epistemology to refer to the women experience or simply said women knowledge and it also concerned with "whose knowledge" is being considered. In other word, feminist epistemology is relatively recent development of feminist theory. Examples of feminist epistemologies are feminist empiricism, standpoint theory and postmodernism. In feminist epistemology, it raises a few questions and both about system of thinking that derived from male-centered ways of knowing and the other one is about new ways of constructing knowledge to be more inclusive and centered in ...
In Feminism Matter: Debates, Theories, Activism, author Victoria L. Bromley not only begins to delve into what it means to be a feminist in today’s society, but also provides the critical background knowledge required to be able fully understand modern feminism. A key factor in understanding any social justice movement is comprehending the difference between subjective knowledge and objective knowledge. Subjective knowledge is knowledge that “...is informed by the person or subject who is speaking” (Bromley, 38). To elaborate, subjective knowledge is derived from an individual’s experience, which often leads to opinions. Opinions are a prime example of subjective knowledge, however it is indisputable that opinions are influenced by bias for
Feminism and Epistemology is a phrase derived from the feminist epistemological and philosophical sciences studies. Feminist and epistemology studies gender influences to perfection in a subject, individual’s conception of knowledge, and competence in inquiry and justifying oneself. Under the study, diverse formalities influencing performance are analyzed. The study outlines how dominant practices and conceptions of acquiring, attributing and justification disadvantages women and other minority groups. The study equips individuals with information to facilitate an end to marginalization. Baselessly, the marginalized groups are discounted as knowers and argued to be less competent in knowing. Their perfect articulation of social relations is discounted. The research has been
From the 18th century onwards, feminisms were beginning to emerge within society. First wave feminism began in the 18th century, focused on public inequality; political, economic, legal and social inequalities surrounding men and women. Following on from first wave liberal feminists came second and third wave feminists which saw radical, black and postmodern feminist schools emerge, which all had a different set of agendas, for example radical feminists focused on family life, violence and the control of women’s bodies, whereas, black and postmodern feminists focused on the ‘more modern’ differences and diversities between women’s lives such as race, class and sexuality issues. All of these feminist theories have led to dramatic changes in Great Britain such as changes within the law regarding education, employment and domestic life. However, whilst there have been improvements in these areas, there are still issues within the 21st century regarding females in employment and in the domestic sphere. What also needs to be taken into account is the changing face of Britain’s female population with the rise in ethnic minority women and homosexual women, and subsequently other schools of feminism need to be explored and developed in order to explain these differences.
One often pre-conceived notion about feminist theory that was discussed in the unit is the idea that theory does not relate to practice (Levan, 10). Even though I have taken multiple Women’s Studies courses prior to this course, I also used to believe this notion. I believed that studying theory would help my own understanding of feminist ideas, but that it was not practical. I admit that even reading the course manual, my opinion only wavered slightly. I agreed more with Andrea Nye’s perspective, that theory “seem to exist without reference to the real world” (Levan, 10). It was not until I read Charlotte Bunch’s article, Not by Degrees: Feminist Theory and Education, that my opinion changed. Her example about the creating a theory regarding lesbian oppression is what truly helped explain the connection between theory and application to me: “Having a theory about lesbian oppression did not tell us what to do tactically, but it did provide a framework for understanding situations, for placing them in a broader context, and for evaluating possible courses of action” (Bunch, 12). The end of this quote is what I needed to understand for me to see the connection between theory and practice. Feminist theory can be used as a guideline when trying to create action for social change.
Feminist Theory is an aspect of considering feminism as having been based on socio-phenomenon issues rather than biological or scientific. It appreciates gender inequality, analyzes the societal roles played by feminists in a bid to promote the interests, issues and rights of women in the society. It is also based on the assumption that women play subsidiary roles in the society. The whole idea of feminism has however experienced hurdles in the form of stereotyping by the wider society. This paper tries to examine some of the effects of stereotypes that feminism goes through, what other philosophers say and the way forward towards ending stereotyping.
The realization that knowledge is situated powerfully affects how we generate knowledge. While standpoint theory offers a valuable critique that validates previously ignored perspectives, even Wylie's perspective on epistemological privilege is difficult to accept. A tempered and thoughtfully implemented feminist empiricism, therefore, offers a better way of understanding and generating knowledge in our dynamic and varied world.
A core reason for the emergence of feminist criminology during the Women’s Movement in the 1970s was the neglect of women in male dominated mainstream criminology (Renzetti 2013, 3-5). This emergence meant that an awareness of power came about, strengthening the core theoretical groundings of feminist criminology. The purpose of this report is to demonstrate and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of gendered power as a core element of feminist criminological theories, and how an awareness of power has influenced modern child protection policies both positively and negatively. Firstly, the way that feminism interprets the male sexual power dynamic has been completely reinterpreted in terms of the powerlessness that relates to women and children (Angelides 2004, 145-147).
The passage of time allows for great change in the world. Given enough time, a desert can become a sea and a plain can become a mountain if the conditions are right. Human society can be compared to these natural phenomenon in the idea that society can have radical changes given the right forces and allowed enough time. This can be seen in the great revolutions of the world such as the Industrial Revolution, an economic boom, the American Revolution, a political movement, and the Civil Rights Movement, a social revolution. The focus of this research is how the feminist movement has been and is viewed but the American public and how it has affected the economic and social standing of women in the past three generations. Through the interviews of Patricia Santangelo, Barbara Santangelo, and Larissa DePamphilis, this investigation hopes to analysis the differing views on feminism, gender roles, and educational and economic opportunities for women in the generations of the Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y.
Feminist theory looks beyond the common male based perspectives and focuses on women’s perspectives and their roles within society. The feminist theory is still relevant in today’s society. In fact, feminism and the feminist theory will be relevant for as long as there is inequality in this world. For example, according to the United States Department of Labor, women still make 78 cents for every dollar men make, on average, in every career field. Additionally, violence against women is still a prevalent problem today. For instance, one in three women are victims of physical and sexual violence often committed by intimate partners. These statistics are higher in countries where women are treated and seen as property of their husbands. Lastly, reproductive rights are an important step to creating equality. Laws need to protect the rights of women to have freedom over their bodies in the way that men have control over
Achieving roles for women that are as equal as men, before and during the twentieth century, appeared to be inevitable in the United States. Women were limited to domesticity, performing duties that only serve their families as wives, mothers, and diligent daughters. Women were absorbed and accustomed to these standards, oblivious to their worth and capabilities that are above and beyond their set domestic duties. “Groups of women challenged this norm of the twentieth century and exceeded their limited roles as domestic servants by organizing movements whose sole purpose is to achieve equality within a male-dominated society” (Norton
Feminism is the movement towards women’s equality. It fights for equal rights in the social, political, cultural and economical aspects for women. Feminism also fights for equal opportunity for women in employment and education. A feminist is someone who advocates their support for women’s rights but is not restricted to only women; anyone who supports women’s rights and equality are feminists, including men. Feminism is not only about the females, it fights for gender equality for all. Feminist movements, or Women’s movements, campaign for reforms in household issues with domestic violence, political issues with equal pay, employment and maternity leave, and reproduction rights. All feminism movements fight for equal rights, but it cannot be conquered or be made known all at once. First wave feminism was mostly about women’s suffrage and political equality in general. Second wave feminism went more in depth about the social and cultural inequalities.
Feminist epistemology involves the study the theory of knowledge i.e. epistemology from q feminist standpoint; the disadvantage faced by women through knowledge and justification. It is usually said to be concerned with how our knowledge is influenced by gender through justification and inquiry. Feminist’s epistemology is ideally based on the fact that by the perspective of a certain theory is affected upon by the knowledge pertaining the theory. The themes which characterize feminist epistemology are not unique it on only, since the themes are also found in the filed science studies and social epistemology. However, feminist epistemology is distinct from both science studies and social epistemology in that, for reconstructing and analysis, gender is characterize used. However, feminists have always argued gender rather than being determined
Throughout history literary works have forced political ideologies to evolve and expand, sometimes even breaking boundaries that would not have been broken otherwise. The works of women in literature have produced new ways of thought and introspective outlooks on life that have introduced many people in the world to the ideas of feminism. The writings of Gilman and Woolf allow readers to take a look into the lives of hard working women who have to deal with the everyday oppression of being a woman in times of inequality and political injustice.
“A feminist is one who believes in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes” (Adichie, 2013). Feminism is not the belief that one’s sexual orientation or one’s power is superior over another. The very meaning of feminism demonstrates a complete resistance to this belief. Throughout the years, a range of categories of feminism philosophy have developed. They consist of goals in objectives, methodologies, and affiliations. Many feminists distinguish themselves with many branches of women 's activist thought. The three forms of feminism that this essay will consider are liberal feminism, socialist feminism, and radical feminism. This essay will argue that liberal feminism is the most valid theory of feminism as liberal feminist’s
Throughout the 19th century, feminism played a huge role in society and women’s everyday lifestyle. Women had been living in a very restrictive society, and soon became tired of being told how they could and couldn’t live their lives. Soon, they all realized that they didn’t have to take it anymore, and as a whole they had enough power to make a change. That is when feminism started to change women’s roles in society. Before, women had little to no rights, while men, on the other hand, had all the rights. The feminist movement helped earn women the right to vote, but even then it wasn’t enough to get accepted into the workforce. They were given the strength to fight by the journey for equality and social justice. There has been known to be