Feminist Epistemology: The Form that will Break the Matrix of Domination
Knowledge is the source for meaningful change and is paramount in liberating oppressed groups. I will use Patricia Collins’ theory that knowledge produces change that will not fall into the matrix of domination and illustrations from her writing to support this idea (251). The current validation process of knowledge is oppressive: Eurocentric epistemology. Collins highlights it’s oppressive effects on Black women in particular, and explains the Black woman’s response. Sociology needs to shift to a more qualitative approach to validating knowledge in order to represent all standpoints. The only way to break down the matrix of domination is to dismember the current Eurocentric …show more content…
Afrocentric epistemology validates knowledge through dialogue, empathy, trustworthiness, lived experiences, and personal expressiveness (Collins 209). This qualitative approach allows the existence of emotion and values identity. Anna Cooper shares a similar feminist standpoint that Collins would consider Afrocentric. Both feminist agree that qualitative analysis is important in validating knowledge because every standpoint is unique. Cooper illustrates this, “It is no fault of man’s that he has not been able to see truth from her standpoint” (107). She means it is impossible for the superior group to see the standpoint of the oppressed when emotion and personal identity is stripped (the common sociological approach). Qualitative analysis must be used in accordance with quantitative analysis in validating knowledge in order for an array of groups to see each other 's …show more content…
does not recognize the value of cultural impacts that reside in opposing epistemologies. The community that Black women fosters only accepts women of African descent which is viewed as fragmentation by Eurocentric thinkers (Collins __). But by fragmenting themselves, Black women are able to maintain group survival and fight for the ability to self-define. “The survival of African-influenced ideas and practices was not an accident but instead resulted from “continual resistance” whereby the women in particular “took it upon themselves to preserve certain customs” (Collins 206). The idea of these communities is not to say that Black women are superior to others and have faced the most oppression; instead, the idea is to humanize themselves by coming together through that particular section of their identity to fight oppression through shared heritage and life experiences. The Black Lives Matter movement is a modern day example. Many people misunderstand the movement and respond by saying that “All Lives Matter”. The protestors were not devaluing other human lives; instead, they want to bring awareness that the Black part of their identity is being oppressed. This leads back to the Afrocentric value of group survival which results in institutional change. An individual 's capacity for knowledge expands and deepens when recognizing every part of another’s
Knowledge is the source for meaningful change and is paramount in liberating oppressed groups. I will use Patricia Collins’ theory that knowledge produces change that will not fall into the matrix of domination and illustrations from her writing to support this idea (251). The current validation process of knowledge is oppressive: Eurocentric epistemology. Collins highlights it’s oppressive effects on Black women in particular, and explains the Black woman’s response. Sociology needs to shift to a more qualitative approach to validating knowledge in order to represent all standpoints. The only way to break down the matrix of domination is to dismember the current Eurocentric …show more content…
Afrocentric epistemology validates knowledge through dialogue, empathy, trustworthiness, lived experiences, and personal expressiveness (Collins 209). This qualitative approach allows the existence of emotion and values identity. Anna Cooper shares a similar feminist standpoint that Collins would consider Afrocentric. Both feminist agree that qualitative analysis is important in validating knowledge because every standpoint is unique. Cooper illustrates this, “It is no fault of man’s that he has not been able to see truth from her standpoint” (107). She means it is impossible for the superior group to see the standpoint of the oppressed when emotion and personal identity is stripped (the common sociological approach). Qualitative analysis must be used in accordance with quantitative analysis in validating knowledge in order for an array of groups to see each other 's …show more content…
does not recognize the value of cultural impacts that reside in opposing epistemologies. The community that Black women fosters only accepts women of African descent which is viewed as fragmentation by Eurocentric thinkers (Collins __). But by fragmenting themselves, Black women are able to maintain group survival and fight for the ability to self-define. “The survival of African-influenced ideas and practices was not an accident but instead resulted from “continual resistance” whereby the women in particular “took it upon themselves to preserve certain customs” (Collins 206). The idea of these communities is not to say that Black women are superior to others and have faced the most oppression; instead, the idea is to humanize themselves by coming together through that particular section of their identity to fight oppression through shared heritage and life experiences. The Black Lives Matter movement is a modern day example. Many people misunderstand the movement and respond by saying that “All Lives Matter”. The protestors were not devaluing other human lives; instead, they want to bring awareness that the Black part of their identity is being oppressed. This leads back to the Afrocentric value of group survival which results in institutional change. An individual 's capacity for knowledge expands and deepens when recognizing every part of another’s