GSD2FCC - Relevance of Feminist Standpoint Theory in Modern Feminism

This essay delves into the feminist standpoint theory, examining its relevance within the broader landscape of modern feminist thought. It begins by referencing Judith Butler's concept of gender as a social construct and highlights the evolving roles of women in contemporary society. The essay focuses on the feminist standpoint theory, developed by Dorothy Smith, emphasizing the importance of women's perspectives in feminist social science. It discusses the theory's strengths, such as advocating for active female participation in theory formulation, and its weaknesses, like its limited focus on social sciences. The essay further analyzes articles discussing feminist epistemology from non-western perspectives, various modern feminist theories, and postcolonial interpretations of feminism. It concludes by noting the significant transformations in feminism and the increasing recognition of feminist perspectives, particularly in contrast to historical anti-feminist interpretations. The provided solution can be used by students, and similar solved assignments and resources are available on Desklib.

Running head: FEMINISTIC THEORY
Feministic Theory
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

1FEMINISTIC THEORY
The concept of feminism is a recent innovation and has been designed specifically to
incorporate the changing power dynamics in the present day society. In the opinion of Judith
Butler articulated in her famous work “Gender Trouble”, “Gender is a just a social construct
which was designed with the objective to maintain the power balance in the society between
the male and the female gender” (Butler 1990). However, it is significant to note that in the
present times this particular status quo has undergone much transformation and the changing
roles which the women are playing in the society is a reflection of this particular fact. This
essay will try to find the relevance of the “Feministic Standpoint Theory” in the field of the
modern cannon of feministic theories.
The “Feministic Standpoint Theory” is one of the most famous theories of the
feministic genre and was developed due to the efforts and the researches of Dorothy Smith, a
follower of Karl Marx. According to this particular theory, “feminist social science should be
practiced from the standpoint of women or particular groups of women, as some scholars
(e.g. Patricia Hill Collins and Dorothy Smith) say that they are better equipped to understand
some aspects of the world” (Harding 2004). The primary strength of this particular theory is
the fact that it articulates for the need of the active participation of the women in the
formulation of the theory and as the need to formulate the various “feminist social science”
from the standpoint of the women. The weakness of this theory can be said to be fat that this
particular theory takes into consideration only the sphere of the social science and not the
other spheres.
“Narayan, U., 2004. The project of feminist epistemology: Perspectives from a
nonwestern feminist. The feminist standpoint theory reader: Intellectual and political
controversies, pp.213-224.”

2FEMINISTIC THEORY
The article “The project of feminist epistemology: perspectives from a
nonwestern feminist” by the authors “McCann and Seung-Kyung” gives an overview of the
concept of “feminist epistemology” and its various related aspects. The major focus of the
article is on the nonwestern feministic perspectives and the role which they play in the genre
of “feminist epistemology”. In the opinion of the authors, the concept of “feminist
epistemology” has gained a considerable amount of significance in the recent times with the
rise of the various theories related to the genre of feminism (Narayan 2004)
“Crowley, H. and Himmelweit, S., 1992. Knowing Women Feminism and Knowledge.”.
The article “What is feminist theory?” by the authors “Crowley and Himmelweit”
discusses about the various modern theories related to the genre of feminism. The major
focus of the authors in this particular article is on finding out the key features of the various
feminist theories and the role which men play in the same process (Crowley and Himmelweit
1992). Furthermore, the authors are of the opinion that since the traditional times the men
have subverted the various theories related to the genre of feminism and have presented it in a
form which is totally anti-feministic in its outline.
“Harding, S., 2004. Introduction: Standpoint theory as a site of political, philosophic,
and scientific debate.”
The author Sandra Harding in the article “Introduction: Standpoint theory as a site
of political, philosophic, and scientific debate” gives a pertinent account of the “Standpoint
Theory” related to the genre of feminism and also the various precepts of this particular
theory. The author in this particular theory tries to introduce the readers to the basic precepts
of this theory and also the contemporary “political, philosophic, and scientific debate” which
surrounds this particular theory of feminism (Harding 2004).

3FEMINISTIC THEORY
“Tyagi, R., 2014. Understanding postcolonial feminism in relation with postcolonial and
feminist theories. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 1(2), pp.45-50.”
The author “Dr. Ritu Tyagi” in the article “Understanding Postcolonial Feminism
in relation with Postcolonial and Feminist Theories” gives an overview of the postcolonial
interpretations of the various feministic theories. In the recent times the various theories
related to the genre of post colonialism has gained significance and it is a reflection of this
that the various theories of feminism are being analyzed thorough the lens of this particular
field of study (Tyagi 2014).
“Sandberg, L., 2013. Affirmative old age-the ageing body and feminist theories on
difference. International Journal of Ageing and Later Life, 8(1), pp.11-40.”
The article “Affirmative old age the ageing body and feminist theories on
difference” by the author Linn Sandberg discusses about the various feministic discourses
related to the old age and ageing among the women. The major focus of this particular article
is on the feministic interpretation of the various discourses related to the concepts of the old
and ageing among the women in terms of the feministic theories (Sandberg 2013).
To conclude, the genre of feminism has undergone a significant transformation in the
recent times. This is a reflection of the formulation as well as the development of the various
theories related to the genre of feminism and its related precincts. It is significant to note that
in the traditional times the various theories related to the genre of feminism were interpreted
in anti-feministic terms and it is only recently with the emergence of the various opinions as
well as theories related to the concept of feminism that this particular genre has attained
significance.

4FEMINISTIC THEORY
References
Butler, J., 1990. Gender trouble and the subversion of identity. New York and London:
Routledge.
Crowley, H. and Himmelweit, S., 1992. Knowing Women Feminism and Knowledge. ISBN-
0745609759
Harding, S., 2004. Introduction: Standpoint theory as a site of political, philosophic, and
scientific debate. ISBN- 0415945003
Narayan, U., 2004. The project of feminist epistemology: Perspectives from a nonwestern
feminist. The feminist standpoint theory reader: Intellectual and political controversies,
pp.213-224.
Sandberg, L., 2013. Affirmative old age-the ageing body and feminist theories on
difference. International Journal of Ageing and Later Life, 8(1), pp.11-40.
Tyagi, R., 2014. Understanding postcolonial feminism in relation with postcolonial and
feminist theories. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 1(2), pp.45-50.