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Standpoint, Gender, & Power

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 “A standpoint is a place from which to critically view the world around us,” (Griffin, Ledbetter, & Sparks, 2015, p. 431).
            It is our perspective, outlook, and viewpoint of the world. Standpoint theorists Sandra Harding and Julia wood claim that, “the social groups within which we are located powerfully shape what we experience and know as well as how we understand and communicate with ourselves, others, and the world,”(2015, p. 444). Standpoint theory allows us to look critically at the relationship between power and knowledge within different standpoint locations in society. It allows us to look at the world through different perspectives.
            When it comes to gender, standpoint theorists see important differences between men and women. One of these many differences include that men tend to want more social autonomy, and women tend to want more social connection. This difference can be observed in how men and women communicate. Within masculine culture, men tend to use speech to accomplish tasks, assert themselves, and gain power. Within feminine culture, women tend to use speech to build relationships, include others, and show responsiveness. However, this is not always true for everyone, because everyone’s standpoint location is different. Our many identities, including our gender, race, religion and more, place us in certain hierarchical locations in society giving some identities more power and influence than others. Looking critically from different perspectives at how, where, when, and why this power exists helps us to better understand it and to eliminate its’ unequal distribution within society.  



Everett Follow, B., Ralston, C., & Stein, C. (2010, November 30). Gender comm presentation. Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/BrittNichEve/gender-comm-presentation
Griffin, E., Ledbetter, A. M., & Sparks, G. G. (2015). A first look at communication theory (9th    ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

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