Definition of the Theory
The theory highlights the modernistic approaches about the perceptions of people. It explains the extent to which day-to-day interactions influence peoples’ opinions. Therefore, the standpoint theory provides a theoretical perspective based on the similarities of opinions from individuals on their social demography.
Meaning of the Theory
The theory makes three primary claims. The first one is that knowledge is socially positioned. The second assertion asserts that marginalized people are often socially grouped, making them aware of the issues around them, which leads them to ask questions or seek for clarification. The last theoretical claim of the standpoint theory recommends that research carried for purposes of power relations should begin with the marginalized groups (Peixoto, Silva, & Salgado, 2015). The central focus of the model provides scenarios of how the socialization mechanism of society affects their perception and influences their interactions.
Invention of the Theory
The standpoint theory traces its origin in 1807 from Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, a German philosopher who was promoting idealist viewpoints. He developed the model while studying the interaction between slaves and their masters (Peixoto, Silva, & Salgado, 2015). The major claim from the investigation was that the relationship between the slave and the master is based on the social standing and affects how information flows when they interact.
The Development of the Theory
Scholars have developed the theory in their endeavors to explain the levels of oppression within social and political perspectives. Given the claims of the theory that knowledge is socially situated, Hossain (2018) reveals that political oppression occurs due to a dominance of knowledge and information about issues such as rights, budgetary allocations, and economic opportunities by a section of the society. The incidences often lead to oppression and marginalization for the remaining citizens. Accordingly, the theory has been used in feminist epistemology to decode how social exclusion and imbalance affect gender relations in the workplace, education institutions, and various systems of socialization.
Application of the Theory in Studies
The theory has been applied in a study involving groups of different female sexual formations and the stereotyping involved within their interactions. Wilcock and Quaid (2018) postulate that based on the standpoint theory, emotions in women contribute to knowledge and influences their decision-making. For instance, a lesbian who seeks to become pregnant passes through conscious reflections triggered by social perspectives and gender roles to influence her decision (Wilcock and Quaid, 2018). On the other hand, Hill (2017) applied the standpoint model to explain the 2011 New York City protest over allegations of corporate corruptions and the inequalities in the incomes of the U.S. citizens. The theory has been used in various studies to explain the political, emotional, and behavioral aspects of social interactions.
Practical Application of the Theory
The theory is used to explain the African context of the patriarchal society that denies rights and privileges to women. According to Chilisa and Ntseane (2010), gender and education have formed a basis of oppression for women leading to marginalization. In their application to a school-based setup, Chilisa and Ntseane (2010) assert that girls and boys have received varied treatment at school, leading to exclusion and the susceptibility to pregnancies and diseases for girls while their counterparts excel. Therefore, standpoint model is used to deliver explanations aimed at correcting the variant gender perspectives in the society.
References
Chilisa, B., & Ntseane, G. (2010). Resisting dominant discourses: Implications of indigenous, African feminist theory and methods for gender and education research. Gender and Education, 22(6), 617-632.
Hill, C. A. (2017). Repugnant business models: Preliminary thoughts on a research and policy agenda. Washington and Lee Law Review., 74(2), 973-1000.
Hossain, S. S. (2018). Designing and demonstrate gender role to early seeds lead for lifelong understanding: An initiative to identify conflict of learning institution and cognitive knowledge. Australian Academy of Business and Economics Review, 4(3), 154-174.
Peixoto, D. R., e Silva, N. L., & Salgado, R. H. C. (2015). Gadamer’s dialectics and its basis on Hegel’s theory. In M. Galuppo., M.S. Lopes., K. Salgado., L. Gontijo & T. Bustamante (Eds.), Human rights, rule of law and the contemporary social challenges in complex societies. (pp. 2028-2042). MG, Brasil: Belo Horizonte.
Wilcock, A., & Quaid, S. (2018). Exploring the dynamics of situated emotionality in feminist standpoint epistemology. Working Paper no 4. University of Sunderland: Center for Applied Social Sciences.
Order an Essay Now & Get These Features For Free:
Turnitin Report
Formatting
Title Page
Citation
Outline
