STANDPOINT THEORY

 STANDPOINT
A view point or an attitude towards the particular issue from their own
perspective.
People see the world from where they stand; this is their standpoint. Everybody have
different standpoints depending on their social, political, economic, life, which
affects their worldview. It sets the attitude of a person and changes their perception.
The theory that defines this viewpoint is known as Standpoint Theory.
 INTRODUCTION

Georg W.F. Hegel (1807)

Social Class

The theory was first introduced by Georg W. F. Hegel in 1807 by studying the
standpoints of masters and slaves and their differences.

Karl Marx

Social Groups

(a philosopher, economist, sociologist, journalist, and revolutionary

socialist) also added to this theory by explaining how one’s working environment shaped
their point of view.

Nancy Hartsock (1983)

Feminist Standpoint: Developing the Ground for a Specifically

Feminist Historical Materialism

According to feminist standpoint theory, women's lives, in general, differ

systematically and structurally from men's lives. Women and men are expected to engage
in distinct activities, and the two groups are accorded different rights and opportunities.
For instance, females are expected to take primary responsibility for homemaking,
parenting, and kin keeping, and females are expected to defer to and please others. She
turned Hegel’s and Karl Marx’s Theory to adapt Standpoint theory for use in examining
relations between men and women.

Sandra Harding and Julia T. Wood

They developed the Standpoint Theory through the book of Nancy Hartsock.

STANDPOINT THEORY
Various levels of people’s perceptions.
Geographical Locations, socio-economic positions

Since no two different people can stand in the exact same place, there
will always be differences in opinion. The standpoint theory concerns
with the various levels of people’s perceptions.

Experience regulates a person’s perceptions. (Video)

Social Inequalities
Differences in viewpoints arise from social inequalities. Just like for
example, the people who are belong to lower class views world much
differently than a billionaire. Poor people think that money is more
important than time, but rich people value time more than their
money.

PURPOSE OF STANDPOINT THEORY

 To understand the perspectives of others
 To promote empowerment