FYI: Who I am & why this relates to standpoint theory

Mar 28, 2022

One thing that I want to be super transparent about with Let's Talk Feminism is who I am as the creator.

Within feminist theory, you'll likely hear about something called standpoint, or standpoint theory. This theory began in the 1970s and has been used by feminist critical theorists to analyze power's influence on the production of knowledge. Basically, it's a way to recognize how systems of oppression affect who can create and distribute knowledge, and how the knowledge those people create either perpetuates or resists that oppression.

"[Standpoint theory] set out to explain how certain kinds of politics do not block the growth of knowledge but, rather, can stimulate and guide it. It presented itself as a philosophy of science, an epistemology, and a method or method of research...It framed these disciplinary projects within a feminist social theory and a political strategy, though standardly it is presumed that these fields can and should be kept immune from social and political elements." (Sandra Harding, The Feminist Standpoint Theory Reader, p. 2)

Basically, nothing exists in a vacuum. No one participates in knowledge production with no background, values, motivations, biases, politics, and other factors influencing what they do.

This means most documentation of the colonization of indigenous peoples' lands was created by the colonizers; this affects how those histories are told and how we learn about them today.

Much of the inventions, practices, and discoveries of the Western scientific community were created by rich white men; this affects how research studies were designed, what groups of people were tested on or given the best treatment, and different group's health risks today.

This knowledge, this capital-t "Truth" is not objective. Everyone is coming from some standpoint. Because of this, standpoint theory helps us recognize the context and influences of all produced knowledge.

Nothing is truly objective. Everything is true according to a certain person, with a certain background and social location, and in a certain time and place.

Many standpoint theorists have pushed the concept to argue that people who experience oppression and marginalization can offer a uniquely insightful perspective.

"'Subjugated' standpoints are preferred because they seem to promise more adequate, sustained, objective, transforming accounts of the world." (Donna Haraway, Situated Knowledges, p. 584)

For example, theorists like Patricia Hill Collins have argued that Black women have a unique perspective on society because of their "outsider within" status. While Black women navigate white spaces and men-dominated spaces, they also experience life as a Black person and as a woman. This double-vision perspective, Collins argues, proves the necessity for Black feminist thought to be valued and respected.

"Sociologists might benefit greatly from serious consideration of the emerging, cross-disciplinary literature that I label Black feminist thought, precisely because, for many Afro-American female intellectuals, 'marginality' has been an excitement to creativity. As outsiders within, Black feminist scholars may be one of the many distinct groups of marginal intellectuals whose standpoints promise to enrich contemporary sociological discourse. Bringing this group - as well as others who share an outsider within status vis-a-vis sociology - into the center of analysis may reveal aspects of reality obscured by more orthodox approaches." (Patricia Hill Collins, Learning from the Outsider Within, p. S15)

So who am I?

I'm an entrepreneur and consultant based in Milwaukee, WI. I have a BA in Human Resources Management and Women's & Gender Studies with Honors from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. I am in my 20s and I'm the grateful mama of two adorable and lovely cats.

I'm white (technically Irish and German, but, you know, white), a cisgender woman (she/they pronouns), queer, non-monogamous, able-bodied, lower- to middle-class, and a U.S. citizen.

I try to take pride in my own identities while recognizing where I have privilege. I try to be the best ally possible to anyone who is oppressed. I am committed to learning more everyday about intersectional feminism, oppression, power, and decolonized, feminist history.

My purpose with this website is to provide the knowledge and communication tools for anyone who wants to have feminist conversations.

Though I am centering myself by writing these posts and wanting others to read them, my intention is to be the stepping stone on your way to further learning. I'll be your cheerleader, your introduction, your reminder, but I would never aim to be the one-and-only expert on any of these topics.

Things to remember when reading my posts...

I will always try to be inclusive and accurate. But anything I write is coming from my specific perspective. I cannot speak on behalf of all feminists, all women, and I cannot speak for those whose identity I do not share. I try to find the balance, but remember that this website will never be all-encompassing or the only resource you should use.
Your lived experience matters too. Within feminist academia, universalizing and generalizing is a big no-no. But these are habits we act upon all the time, and it can be hard to prevent this entirely. If you read something that doesn't resonate with your experience, it might be an indication that you should continue your learning on that topic, or it might be a sign that your unique social location simply differs from that of others. If you are oppressed because of any part of your identity, trust your lived experiences first.
I'm here to learn too! Part of my goal with this website is to more actively engage with feminist theory and activism. I'm trying to use the knowledge I do have to offer value to other newbie feminists, but I'm still learning. If you have another article or video that relates to one of my posts, comment it! If you have a question or differing opinion, comment it!