Question 1

Sandra Harding's insistence on local knowledge is based upon the claim of traditional Western science that it can discover "Truth" that is value-free and accessible to any objective observer.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 2

Standpoint theorists see important differences between men and women. Unlike the masculine community, the feminine community uses speech to:

Accepted Answer

A)   develop strategies.
B)   gain power.
C)   show responsiveness.
D)   assert self. C

Question 3

Wood offers two explanations to explain why the standpoints of women and other marginalized groups should be less partial, distorted, or less false than the perspectives of men who are in dominant positions. Outline and discuss the explanations.

Accepted Answer

Wood offers two explanations for why the standpoints of women and other marginalized groups should be less partial, distorted, or less false than the perspectives of men in dominant positions.

First, she argues that women and other marginalized groups have a different and often more critical perspective on social reality because they are not in positions of power. This means that they are able to see and understand the world in a way that is not influenced by the same biases and privileges that come with being in a dominant position. As a result, their perspectives are often more accurate and less distorted by the desire to maintain power and control.

Second, Wood suggests that women and other marginalized groups have a vested interest in challenging the status quo and exposing the injustices and inequalities that they face. This means that their perspectives are often more attuned to the realities of oppression and discrimination, and they are more likely to speak out against these injustices. In contrast, men in dominant positions may be less inclined to see or acknowledge these issues because they benefit from the current power structures.

Overall, Wood's explanations highlight the importance of considering the perspectives of women and other marginalized groups as more accurate and less distorted than those of men in dominant positions. By recognizing and valuing these perspectives, we can gain a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of social reality.

Question 4

What are the social groups to which you belong that shape your standpoint? Are some more influential than the others? How do they affect your view of the world? How is it possible for you to answer these questions objectively?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the social groups to which...

Question 5

Harding and Wood claim that the perspectives of those who are marginalized is more "objective," more "complete," and "better" than members of dominant groups. Discuss what they mean by each of these terms and the challenges that are posed by critics. Who do you find more persuasive?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Harding and Wood claim that the perspectives...

Question 6

How might standpoint theory sharpen rhetorical analysis, particularly the kind suggested by Aristotle? How do concepts from rhetorical theory help expand and modify standpoint theory?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How might standpoint theory sharpen rhetorical analysis,...

Question 7

How might standpoint theorists critique the various theories in the Media and Culture and the Media Effects sections?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How might standpoint theorists critique the various...

Question 8

In the context of ethical reflection, identify a true statement about Seyla Benhabib's interactive universalism.

Accepted Answer

A)   Benhabib insists that any panhuman ethic be achieved through imposition by a rational elite rather than through interaction with collective concrete others.
B)   Benhabib appreciates the postmodern insistence that a moral point of view is an accomplishment rather than a discovery.
C)   Benhabib suggests that individuals should reach a consensus on how everyone "should act."
D)   Benhabib is "content with singing the swan-song of normative thinking in general."

Question 9

Discuss Wood's efforts to maintain group solidarity. Why is it important? Is it possible, as Wood suggests, to value differences while emphasizing overarching feminist concerns? What might be lost when group solidarity is stressed in this way?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss Wood's efforts to maintain group solidarity....

Question 10

________ knowledge is defined as knowledge that is situated in time, place, experience, and relative power.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ________ knowledge is defined as knowledge that...

Question 11

Standpoint theorists emphasize the importance of social location because they are convinced that people at the top of the societal hierarchy are the ones privileged to define what it means to be female, male, or anything else in a given culture.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

As an unapologetic feminist committed to the equal value of all human life, Wood understands that:

Accepted Answer

A)   men cannot be feminists.
B)   a sense of solidarity among women is politically useful if women are to effectively critique a male-centered world.
C)   we need to discover the "essence of women" that motivates their communication.
D)   All of the answers are correct.

Question 13

Define "strong objectivity" and give an example of communication research based on this strategy. How might the critique of strong objectivity influence communication research?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define "strong objectivity" and give an example...

Question 14

How might Harding and Wood respond to Tannen's views of gender and communication?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How might Harding and Wood respond to...

Question 15

All aspects of a person's identity are intertwined, mutually constituting each other. This statement best describes the concept of ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   reciprocity
B)   relative simplicity
C)   intersectionality
D)   reflexivity

Question 16

Standpoint theorists maintain that the perspectives of privileged groups are more complete and thus, better than those of subordinate groups in a society.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Compare standpoint theory with the approach of performance ethnography (Chapter 33).

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare standpoint theory with the approach of...

Question 18

How are the ideas proposed by Deetz and Harding and Wood compatible? Clearly, they share a critical edge, but how do the concepts that are put forth become similar?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How are the ideas proposed by Deetz...

Question 19

Compare Patricia Hill Collin's four ways in which black women collectively validate what they know with Walter Fisher's two criteria of coherence and fidelity.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare Patricia Hill Collin's four ways in...

Question 20

In her book Black Feminist Thought, Patricia Hill Collins says that black women collectively validate what they know. She states that:

Accepted Answer

A)   "lived experience as a criterion of meaning."
B)   "the use of monologues in assessing knowledge claims."
C)   "the ethic of apathy."
D)   "the ethic of corporate accountability."

Exam 32: Standpoint Theory

Sandra Harding's insistence on local knowledge is based upon the claim of traditional Western science that it can discover "Truth" that is value-free and accessible to any objective observer.

Standpoint theorists see important differences between men and women. Unlike the masculine community, the feminine community uses speech to:

Wood offers two explanations to explain why the standpoints of women and other marginalized groups should be less partial, distorted, or less false than the perspectives of men who are in dominant positions. Outline and discuss the explanations.

What are the social groups to which you belong that shape your standpoint? Are some more influential than the others? How do they affect your view of the world? How is it possible for you to answer these questions objectively?

Harding and Wood claim that the perspectives of those who are marginalized is more "objective," more "complete," and "better" than members of dominant groups. Discuss what they mean by each of these terms and the challenges that are posed by critics. Who do you find more persuasive?

How might standpoint theory sharpen rhetorical analysis, particularly the kind suggested by Aristotle? How do concepts from rhetorical theory help expand and modify standpoint theory?

How might standpoint theorists critique the various theories in the Media and Culture and the Media Effects sections?

In the context of ethical reflection, identify a true statement about Seyla Benhabib's interactive universalism.

Discuss Wood's efforts to maintain group solidarity. Why is it important? Is it possible, as Wood suggests, to value differences while emphasizing overarching feminist concerns? What might be lost when group solidarity is stressed in this way?

________ knowledge is defined as knowledge that is situated in time, place, experience, and relative power.

Standpoint theorists emphasize the importance of social location because they are convinced that people at the top of the societal hierarchy are the ones privileged to define what it means to be female, male, or anything else in a given culture.

As an unapologetic feminist committed to the equal value of all human life, Wood understands that:

Define "strong objectivity" and give an example of communication research based on this strategy. How might the critique of strong objectivity influence communication research?

How might Harding and Wood respond to Tannen's views of gender and communication?

All aspects of a person's identity are intertwined, mutually constituting each other. This statement best describes the concept of ________.

Standpoint theorists maintain that the perspectives of privileged groups are more complete and thus, better than those of subordinate groups in a society.

Compare standpoint theory with the approach of performance ethnography (Chapter 33).

How are the ideas proposed by Deetz and Harding and Wood compatible? Clearly, they share a critical edge, but how do the concepts that are put forth become similar?

Compare Patricia Hill Collin's four ways in which black women collectively validate what they know with Walter Fisher's two criteria of coherence and fidelity.

In her book Black Feminist Thought, Patricia Hill Collins says that black women collectively validate what they know. She states that: