Feminist Standpoint Theory Analysis

The term ‘Feminism’ is born out of oppression. This highlights the importance of how these acts of

During this week, we have covered numerous topics, none more prominent than the oppression of women. Everyone had different opinions, allowing me to take into account different views on the issue. In one of the texts we examined, “Oppression”, Marilyn Frye, a philosopher, debates the subjugation of women. She states the cultural customs that causes oppression of women. I do agree with her view that women are oppressed, but I do not agree that it is just women. I believe that men as a gender are also oppressed.

Swigonski (1991) discussed the effectiveness of standpoint theory in confronting social problems concerning social work. The study of theory begins with the assumption that society is structured by power relations generating unequal opportunities or ideologies. The theory states that in most cases, the oppressed individuals include women and girls where most of their activities within communities are less valued compare to activities assigned to boys and men. To develop a standpoint, social workers and development practitioners presents human communication as a way for affected individuals to engage in intellectual conversations and discussions concerning the complex social problems that surrounds the subordinate status of women and girls in disadvantaged communities. These communication approaches may also include readings, attending talks and workshops, reflection, and participation with groups such as the consciousness-raising groups (Haraway, 1988). The unique contribution of standpoint theory is that it facilitates inquiry from the perspective of the insiders (i.e. women and girls) rather than external categories of professionals or ruling elites (Harding, 1991).

Crenshaw’s Mapping the Margins: The Marginalization of Women of Color Analyzed Through Generalization and A Feminist Lens

It drew attention to the fact that patriarchal values distort all areas of society, from culture and philosophy to morality and religion, rather than highlighting the more commonly talked about legal and social disadvantages. If the base of society is patriarchal then that affects every woman’s personal life and therefore needs to be reformed. Radical feminists go one step further than other feminist traditions in their belief that sexual oppression is the most fundamental feature of society, and that other forms of injustice are merely secondary. This enables them to draw attention to the less noticeable aspects of female oppression within our

As a memoir, the idea of knowledge claims as it relates to College Girl, by Laura Gray-Rosendale, seems a bit more open to interpretation. But while Laura Gray-Rosendale is not claiming scientific fact through her story, she shares what she experienced and how it affected her, and, to her, that is her fact. Her claim of knowledge pertains to how her own experiences affected her and shaped her for the time period to come. Throughout the process of her story, Gray-Rosendale makes claims or states what was fact for her. She asserts that this attack was unprovoked and unexpected, that the contrast of life before and after the event is incomparable, that the event was unimaginably disturbing and scarring, that the aftermath

Fostering this, both Black women’s empowerment and conditions of social justice within the academy can align with the movement that adequately addresses intersectionality of race, gender, class, and sexuality. The black feminist framework seeks to reconfigure being Black and a female in white misogynistic society were the cross of race, class, and gender are theorized as everyday realities. The intersectional analysis of race, class, gender, and sexuality is termed as intersectionality. A term created by Kimberlé Crenshaw, intersectionality explores the systematic structures of dominance of race, class, gender and sexuality that affect those who are neither White nor male (Mirza, 2015).

“Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain’t I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man--when I could get it--and bear the lash as well! And ain’t I a woman?” Sojourner Truth spoke these words in 1851, at the Women’s Convention in Akron, Ohio. For 150 years these words have bolstered the feminist movement, yet hidden in such words is the unique experience of women of color in the United States. Traditional feminist and antiracist teachings document the experiences of being either a woman or a person of color, but rarely do they acknowledge the intersection of these experiences. Coined by race-theory scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw, the term “intersectionality”

The participant believed in the idea that we must examine our borders and what society believes to be acceptable. Therefore, through this analyzes we must be in solidarity with our women partners rather than against them. We might not be able to speak of their experiences, but we can be understanding of their feelings. The first participant argues that “unless you are a cisgender wealthy White Christian male, you have felt oppression, but maybe unaware because one has been realized to believe they have power and are not oppressed or they refuse to believe they have been oppressed because it all of a sudden becomes an indictment on them as a person, which is false (Interview 1).” Through social constructs and society, women are seen as inferior and men hating. However, by understanding sexism in, which makes a person teaches sexism without reproducing sexism, one is able to shift the cultural attitude present and push towards greater autonomy. During the second interview, the participant shared key elements in how men can join and be a part of the feminist movement. As a black male, the participants believed that,” Participation in movements, and having more men participate openly in events considered female. Reduce women based events, and have joint events with a focus on bringing the genders together (Interview 2).” Only through society, have people have been divided and placed on

Feminist theory is associated with the analysis and explanation of women’s subordinate social situation. It seeks to

To illustrate history, women have not always had an specific place in society, but the views that society has held for women is far from how women see themselves in this day in time. With regards as time has come and gone women have evolved just like technology. Women have overcome many milestones in life, speaking from historically standpoint. We all know that our great grandmothers’ only took care of the home, the children and their husband. In those days’ women were seen as caregivers and women were told that they had to be submissive to their husbands. Women did not have any rights, it is supposed to be a man’s world, but without a woman what would the world be like.

It has become an ordinary practice within feminism speculation to claim that women’s lives are established by multiple intersecting structures of oppression. This insight of oppression is not committed by a single authority or a political relation, but is better acknowledged as established by various assembled or interwoven systems. Dynamics that have been repeatedly overlooked include the differing distribution of wages, socioeconomic background of individuals, rights of transgenders, and reproductive rights. This oppression includes neglection of political and social justice because anti-racism activists are developed by men of color and anti-sexist reforms are developed by white women. Therefore the benefits are not applied to them, as

In Transnational Cycles of Gendered Vulnerability: Theory of Global Gender, Alison Jaggar argues that across the globe, women are entrapped in cycles of poverty, abuse, and disenfranchisement of multiple varieties. (Jaggar 33) Part of her argument emphasizes women 's lack of education, which contributes to their inability to find work, escape abusive relationships etc. While I agree that women worldwide are continuous victims of vicious patriarchal oppression and subjection, and that said despotism should be viewed as a universal injustice, Jaggar’s particular view of the role of education, race, socioeconomic status and sexuality is fallacious. Her criticism of Susan Moller Okin’s theory of gendered vulnerability relies heavily on her perceived

The inequality of women has been a long-lasting issue since its existence, with the issue still persisting today. Women have gained more rights over time in great part to efforts made by feminists, however, much progress still needs to be made. Mary Wollstonecraft, often cited as one of the founding feminist philosophers, is a notable feminist whose advocacy and ideas on femininity have acted as a strong influence for the modern conception of feminism. One of Wollstonecraft’s most prominent works in regards to feminism is A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. In the piece, Wollstonecraft uses and critiques philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s work titled Discourse on the Origin of Inequality, in order to build a case in defense of a woman’s

From the very beginning of time, society has never properly treated both genders as equals. It has been noted and observed that men have always been inherently gifted in being both powerful and dominant. As opposed to the women who are in possession of no such traits except to always be submissive and dutiful. In relations to gender inequality, oppression is a mechanism used by the men to assert total supremacy and jurisdiction over their inferiors in hopes of stunting these woman of reaching their fullest potential and it is only the most powerful women who exudes confidence and euphoria in hopes of establishing fairness. Margaret Atwood was one such author to terminate these outdated imposed treatments. She strived to conceptualize the importance