Thinking Outside-In

The central epistemological tenet of feminist standpoint theory, the Epistemic Advantage Thesis, claims that understanding the world, especially in its social dimensions, benefits from critical reflection on the experiences and interests of marginalized people such as women. Individuals and liberatory communities obtain the epistemic advantage of a standpoint through an Outside-In Process of thinking, drawing into science and other knowledge-making practices the “outside” values and experiences of marginalized people. This process characterizes feminist standpoint theory’s function as a methodology and as a philosophy of science.