Feminist method

The feminist method is a means of conducting of scientific investigations and generating theory from an explicitly feminist standpoint. Feminist methodologies are varied, but tend to have a few common aims or characteristics, including seeking to overcome biases in research, bringing about social change, displaying human diversity, and acknowledging the position of the researcher. Questioning normal scientific reasoning is another form of the feminist method. Each of these methods must consist of different parts including: collection of evidence, testing of theories, presentation of data, and room for rebuttals. How research is scientifically backed up affects the results. Like consciousness raising, some feminist methods affect the collective emotions of women, when things like political statistics are more of a structural result When knowledge is either constructed by experiences, or discovered, it needs to both be reliable and valid.^[1] Strong feminist supporters of this are Nancy Hartsock, Hilary Rose, and finally Sandra Harding.^[2]

Questioning gender as a scientific construct

Through questioning science Anne Fausto-Sterling came up with alternatives to the concept of having only two sexes, male and female.^[3] She argues that through biological development there is a possibility of having five sexes instead of two.^[4] She believes there are male, female, merm (male pseudohermaphrodites, i.e. when testicular tissue is present), ferm (female pseudohermaphrodites, i.e. when ovarian tissue is present), and herm (true hermaphrodites, i.e. when both testicular and ovarian tissue is present).^[5]

Emotion

Alison Jaggar disputes the dichotomy between reason and emotion and argues that rationality needs emotion.^[6] She states emotions are normally associated with women and rationality is associated with men.^[7] She also claims that there are many theories as to the origins of emotions, and in the long run listening to emotions might lead to better decisions. ^[8]

References

1. Bird, Sharon. "Feminist Methods of Research". Iowa State University.
2. Code, Lorriane. "Feminist Epistomology". Routlage Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
3. Fausto-Sterling, Anne (Mar–Apr 1993). "The Five Sexes". The Sciences 33 (2): 20–26. doi:10.1002/j.2326-1951.1993.tb03081.x.
4. Fausto-Sterling, Anne (Mar–Apr 1993). "The Five Sexes". The Sciences 33 (2): 20–26. doi:10.1002/j.2326-1951.1993.tb03081.x.
5. Fausto-Sterling, Anne (Mar–Apr 1993). "The Five Sexes". The Sciences 33 (2): 20–26. doi:10.1002/j.2326-1951.1993.tb03081.x.
6. Jaggar, Allison (1989). "Love and knowledge: Emotion in feminist epistemology". Inquiry. doi:10.1080/00201748908602185. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
7. Jaggar, Allison (1989). "Love and knowledge: Emotion in feminist epistemology". Inquiry. doi:10.1080/00201748908602185. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
8. Jaggar, Allison (1989). "Love and knowledge: Emotion in feminist epistemology". Inquiry. doi:10.1080/00201748908602185. Retrieved 9 February 2016.