According to Kanter (1975 cited in:smith:1998), argued that when using the methodological principles of empiricist science, such bias and prejudice can be eradicate from the research of social science. Enforcing the idea that facts and values have to be kept separate. But however it will be difficult to achieve this because most researchers are male. Therefore it is important to increase female researchers in the social science field and giving them authoritative positions in social science, therefore they can enforce this change, also female researchers are more likely to produce objective (meaning unbiased) pieces of research evidence. For example feminist research empiricism developed by popper and by feminist empiricist are both in similarity and effectively dedicated to the objective knowledge, they argue that that the modern and open society should be prejudice bias free, and metaphysical assumptions are overcome through the methodological use of the scientific method. This is because feminist methodology is unbiased and open to interpretation.
On the other hand some argue that feminist discourse should be looked historically when it comes to theorizing, because there are more situations that have impact on women historically, than it does bow in the contemporary society (Smith, 1998, p.314).
Secondly, feminist radical and socialist feminist positions argue for openly for the transformation of social relations, therefore to do this many standpoint theorist, enforce that social researchers should really investigate on that real social structures of society. For example, feminist standpoint theorist have one thing in similarity is that the experiences of women, is structured through social relationships; these relationships are, oppressive and exploitive also dehumanizing. Therefore the feminist standpoint theorist enforce that when social scientist collect research they should acknowledge; the oppressed as a foundation, as constructing objective knowledge. Therefore feminist theorist link knowledge to oppression, for example; according to Flax (1983) argues that the standpoint of the male master distorted and preserves understanding of the world, whereas the standpoint of the oppressed can act as a foundation for constructing an alternative form a non-capitalist and non-patriarchal society. This is a theme in radical feminist movement; also patriarchy is a key subject because male dominance shapes the social construction of society however this should be challenged, accordance to feminism. Therefore feminist develop theories, by arguing patriarchy as a cause to gender differences, this is knowledge according to feminist standpoint theorist.
Postmodern feminism is concerned about truth claim and relies on genealogy; therefore one of the most influential thinkers of postmodern feminism is Michael Foucault. This is because Foucault establishes the genealogy of truth, this means practices and influences that covered the institution of discourses. He argues that truth is strongly associated with power. Therefore postmodern feminism is normative it challenged truth claims of all custodians of knowledge; meaning people who set themselves as judge of someone else. When judgements are made it initiates a way that cultural differences have no significant meaning, thus postmodern feminism promotes the message of toleration and also the acceptance of pluralism in social research Smith(1998, p.318).
Feminist like Judith Butler, argue that gender difference is a social construction. In Butlers discussions about sexuality, gender is a social construction so is sexuality. By this meaning gender is just a performative. For example being a lesbian is performative, by this meaning when she is washing up or doing laundry does that mean she is still remains lesbian? Therefore gender and sexuality is a social construction of society it’s not a characteristic. Even though one may argue it is a characteristic. So forth what Butler argues that gender is just a social construction of society meaning its actions that determines ones positions , For example; one may be a lesbian though her actions. In Judith Butlers book Gender Trouble, she claims that gender should not be conceived as a cultural infliction or meaning as a pregiven sex, gender should be looked as production meaning sex is established. Therefore culture is not natural like gender (Butler, 1990, p.7). Therefore constructive feminist would contribute to the development of sociological theoryby stating that gender is a construction then natural and it should not be looked at a cultural format.
However according to Harding (1986) she identifies problematic framework with the feminist methodology, she claims that empiricism is a way to clean up male bias social science. It is just a tool for social justification, by this meaning statements are collected and analyzed and evidence is collected and explained. Therefore feminist methodology ignores the aspect of discovery. In the first place this is how issues and problems are studied, and identifies are constructed. Even though feminist empiricism is concerned with the culture of social research it articulates on how knowledge and construction should be reformed, but ignores human imagination as organized experience. However the central part of feminist methodology is to remain objective to be free from bias and prejudice however feminist objective is defined very narrowly, that it undermines it own methodology, therefore is feminist knowledge objective as they so not consider other aspects of science?
According the Bernstein is theory undermines the feminist epistemology this is because; the central part of feminist research is to analyse gender relations. Also feminist claim they are Objective, free from bias and prejudice, however the enlightenment discourse entails objective science. The feminist theorist disregard the enlightenment period and its discourse, this is because it is male biased. They are undermining their own theory by relating to objectivism, as objectivism is a part of traditional science; it belongs to the enlightenment project. So forth if objective science is derived from the enlightenment project, is it ok for feminism to claim objectivism, as feminist criticise the enlightenment project as producing bias knowledge.
Similarly Rorty (1980) claims feminist theory tends to over estimate metatheoretical features. This is because feminist theorist criticize existing science, however the feminist theory science get the wrong idea of science because their theory is too central to philosophy and its conflicts. This initiates the idea that feminist epistemology does not look at other features of science, other than philosophy this leads to feminist epistemology to be weak. Similarly many feminist theorists have been working as scientist or philosophers, they also do not criticize their own discipline but tend to criticise others work.
Is feminist movement scientific of political? Feminist theorist has been more linked to political feminism; and so on it is seen more as a political movement, than an academic framework of theories and studies. So forth feminism is a way to justify their work of studies as true knowledge, and other scientific enquiry that is male dominated as male biased.
However feminist epistemology, argues that women have cognitive privilege in society meaning their knowledge is superior compared to men knowledge. This knowledge is generated by women shared common experience. Therefore does that mean women in the third world and first world countries have the same experience? Do women who work and who do not work have the same common experience? , This means that feminist they are undermining their own theory. This is because women do not share the same experience in reality. For example; women in third world country would experience a different experience of oppression compared to women n in the first world. Women in the third world live in a more male dominated system and also, may have more cultural and religious form oppression through significant male domination, On the other hand women in the west may feel oppression at work. Therefore this argument contradicts feminist standpoint, towards the development to sociological theory.
According to Moi (1985), argues that feminist don’t look at other aspects of arguments rather than patriarchy therefore it is difficult to explain anti-patriarchal discourse.
However according Grant (1987 cited in: smith: 1998) she argues that feminist theory is too quick to judge on male reasoning, and they vaguely propose that women’s experience is an explanation to the sociological theory. It is also very hard to define women’s shared common experience.
However in order to conceptualize experience, it is very clear what female and male position is easy to recognize by recent feminist discourses. Also it has been acknowledged by recent feminist that it is possible to argue epistemologically that, lesbian women, black women, working class women and in the third world and so on all have different understanding, knowledge and experiences in life. Therefore only pluralism only seeks to solve these problems for feminism.
In conclusion, feminism is a very challenging theory, feminism want to remain objective, when it comes to social research. Feminist challenge male stream male bias social research, and also see scientific theory as androcentric meaning male centred and male biased.
This is due to the fact that women are seen invisible in most social studies, also in academic framework. However feminist theorist develops their sociological theory, through empiricism meaning experience, they believe that women share the same common experience, and this experience is oppression. On the other hand feminist theorist also claim that their research is objective, they claim that most social research is male biased and female epistemology is unbiased, this is because feminist include women in the field of studies. Therefore feminist studies is free from bias and prejudice, therefore women should be employed in academic studies and lead higher position so that they can enforce objective knowledge.
Feminist claim that facts should be kept separate from values, if facts are same as values then it is bad science, metaphysical science. However separating values from facts can make objective science. Thus feminist theorist despises the enlightenment project, because it is androcentric.
Fundamentally feminist theory has also various issues with their claims and academic work. For example; feminist standpoint theorist claim women share the same common experience that is oppression. To this point anyone would question, if women in the south and North share the same experience? Or if a working women and a housewife share the same experience? Therefore women’s experience is a conclusion of variation rather than a common experience. Thus you cannot come to a conclusion about women’s common experience. The enlightenment project also undermines feminist standpoint theorist about objective science. This is because the enlightenment project is where objective science derived from. Therefore feminist claim about remaining free from bias and prejudice is not broad enough. On the other hand feminist studies focus too much on patriarchy this is how feminist researchers contribute to the development sociological theory, their theme of studies again it’s not broad enough, also it does not look at other aspects of science but more on philosophy side of science. Another huge factor is feminist do not really look at their own discipline, and criticize own their work. However I would come to the conclusion that feminism is more of a political movement than a study of academic framework. For example the feminist theorist is a way to enforce women’s rights and issues in society. The feminist theory also is a way to include women in the work force and enforce women to get higher paid work and high social position, in society. The phrase “personal is political” that personal; problems are political problems meaning the public and the private sphere of society is the same. Women in their personal life who experience problems of oppression is not their fault, however it is the systematic structure of the society to blame. Therefore it is questionable whether feminist theorist is more political than academic.
Bibliography:
Jane Flax (1983) political philosophy and patriarchal discourse unconscious: A psychoalytic perspective on epistemology and metaphysics.
Mark j. Smith (1998) social science in question: SAGE publications: London
Harding, Sandra (1986), The science question in feminism: Cornell University: USA
Stanley, Liz Method and Wise, Sue (1990), Methodology and feminist research process: Routledge: London
Moi, Toril (1985), Feminist literary criticism: sexual politics: Methuen: London
Halberg, Margret (1989), Feminist epistemology: An impossible project: Radical philosophy, 53- 37
Butler, Judith (1990), Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity. New York: Routledge
Rorty, Richard (1980), Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature, Basil Blackwell: Oxford.
Butler, Judith (1990), Gender trouble: feminism and subversion of identity: Routledge: USA.
by
zazabeb (student)
