Write up responses to three of the following questions, and upload them through Blackboard
(in a single file). In each case, aim for about 500-750 words. As with the assignments, don’t stress
about your answers being very polished, but try to be as clear and as organized as possible
2. What did Collins mean in claiming that “Dialogue and principled coalition create possibilities for
new versions of truth” (255)? Would you agree with this claim? Try to relate Collins’ ideas to other
authors or themes that we have discussed in the course.
In her discussion of Black Feminist Thought, Collins worked out a standpoint perspective, but like
others she sees this as a building block toward a larger and more inclusive coalitional perspective.
What intersectionality teaches us is that we can’t just jump headfirst into a fully encompassing
feminist perspective (that’s liable to be hijacked by some problematic ‘essentialism’, an incorrect
assumption about universal sameness), but that we first need to work it all out on the basis of a
concrete recognition of relevant differences – when we do that, we can then find ourselves in the
position of putting forward a more accurate and comprehensive view of reality. This relates well to
Harding, and to what we read concerning coalitional organizing.
3. What are the key differences between Feminist Empiricism and Feminist Standpoint Theory, and
how do these play out with regard to the issue of diversity? (Consider Intemann’s “female biomedical researcher” example, or some other illustration.) Where would you stand on this?
You need to go over each of the two perspectives, but the main point to think about is that the
approach to knowledge of FE is non-neutral but still impartial, while FST is non-neutral and nonimpartial – applied to the process of generating knowledge, the same sort of reasoning found in FE
is extended to claim that it’s not just about the relevant values enacted, but that it does matter
who is doing it. In addition to Longino and representatives of FST, Crasnow and Intemann will obviously be very useful here (see Intemann especially on the issue of diversity). This relates to a question that came up during the course: given that it’s a good thing to have more women in STEM
fields (for example), why is that so, that is, what exactly is the difference that’s supposed to make?
On what basis did Harding claim that “the logic of standpoint theory leads to the refusal to sensationalize its subjects of knowledge” (455)? What does the claim mean, and how does it relate to
her further point that “the subject of liberator y feminist knowledge must also be […] the subject
of every other liberator y knowledge project” (455f)? Would you agree?
For Harding, standpoint thinking is about ‘starting with’ women’s lives understood in very concrete
terms (as opposed to potentially very misleading, because sensationalizing, ideological discourses),
and she emphasizes that this does not involve assuming that all women’s lives are alike – on the
contrary, there are real concrete differences, and bringing these to light is part of the undertaking,
as it serves to put the lie to those sensationalizing fictions about the sameness of women’s lives. This
relates closely to her emphasis on the idea of ‘starting’—this is just the beginning because it messes
with our inherited preconceptions, but that’s crucial for moving forward! This relates closely to
Oksala’s idea of problematical experience, as well as (and this is Harding’s other point here) to
the idea of coalitions (along with the idea of internationalist as a ‘provisional concept’).
6. Discuss (in a comparable level of detail as would be required by any other question here) the most
interesting or important thing you learned in the course.
Here it’s pretty open, just pick something that has especially piqued your interest and write about
it with the same sort of detail as in other questions. And it’s always good if you can bring together
two or more authors. If you’re unsure about a possible topic, just get in touch with me. You can
draw from previous assignments, but try not to overlap too much with them.
Last Completed Projects
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