Standpoint theory implies feminist theoretical perspectives that assume that knowledge comes from one’s societal position. These perspectives deny that traditional scientific approaches are objective and suggest that research and theories have not taken into account female and feminist ways of intellection (Introduction to Sociological Theory). Smith’s idea is founded on the Marxist assumption that individuals from oppressed classes possess peculiar access to pieces of knowledge that are not available to ones from privileged classes. In the second half of the 20th century, feminist scholars started examining how inequality between males and females impacts knowledge creation.
The mentioned research was considerably related to epistemology and emphasized that knowledge is always socially located. In the framework of a society in which there is a substantial extent of stratification of various types, a person’s societal position determines what he or she can know and understand (Introduction to Sociological Theory). Hence, it seems reasonable to state that a social status shapes fundamental societal views and perceptions of an individual. Therefore, relationships within societies should be founded on the principles of equal access to knowledge and significant social mobility.
In particular, I suggest that my taken-for-granted knowledge of the social world is affected by societal location. For instance, being a person who is not involved in the municipal governmental structures, I cannot obtain the practical knowledge of what effort is required to arrange political debates in public. However, this knowledge could be useful within the scope of my political position’s expression. A relevant example might be given – in the current conditions of COVID-19, people get a fake vaccination (Jin, 2020).
International experts claim that there is no vaccine currently, and only those who do not know or understand this fact may believe in the opposite claim. I assume that people in countries with insignificant social mobility and substantial governmental influence on public opinion can adhere to this opposite claim as they do not have the opportunity to assess the facts independently.
References
Introduction to Sociological Theory: Theorists, concepts, and their applicability to the twenty-first century. Chapter 10: Feminist Theories, pp. 327-365.
Jin, K.-X. (2020). Keeping people safe and informed about the coronavirus. Facebook. Web.