Summary Of Situated Knowledges By Donna Haraway

The study of science is objective. All bias and emotional involvement must be suspended to reach an absolute truth. Science is founded on unbiased observation and thus given this element of infallibility; however, distinguished Professor Donna Haraway questions this notion. Every member of society has a partial perspective of the world. These perspectives are influenced by time, place, situation, or experiences. Due to the inconstant nature of perception Haraway insists that it is simply unrealistic to hold an objective view. In her essay Situated Knowledges: The Science Question in Feminism and the Privilege of Partial Perspective, Haraway argues that objectivity as it is defined only benefits the privileged majority. Her claim is knowledge is situated, and must require context and multiple
Situated knowledge is a logical alternative to traditional objectivity. Objectivity as it is currently defined requires a viewpoint from outside the body, while the subject is simplified and the object remains stable. Haraway does not believe an omniscient viewpoint is possible. She argues, “that view of infinite vision is an illusion, a god-trick” (372). This illusion is supported by the fact that science is “tied to militarism, capitalism, colonialism, and male supremacy” (372). The phallogocentrism of science makes it difficult to take into account the viewpoint of the subjugated. The party in power is seen as a neutral entity; Haraway calls them the “Unmarked Bodies” (372). However, a body that is comprised of White men in a society that is subjected to male-dominance cannot possibly be neutral. Under those provisions the dominating class will always be objective while the “other” (non-white males) can be considered subjective or inadequate. Feminist ideals for example are never disassociated from feminist