The research standard of strong objectivity was developed by Sandra Harding to challenge how scientific institutions address the lived experiences of marginalized groups. By examining the foundations of knowledge production, she established a framework for feminist epistemology and postcolonial studies that significantly influenced social science methodology and the broader academic understanding of scientific inquiry throughout her extensive career.
Academic Trajectory
Born in San Francisco in 1935, Harding earned her undergraduate degree from Douglass College at Rutgers University in 1956. Her early professional life included work as a legal researcher, editor, and fifth-grade math teacher. She returned to academia to complete her doctorate at the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1973. Her career included significant appointments at the University of Delaware and UCLA, where she served as director of the Center for the Study of Women.
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Harding was a central figure in articulating standpoint methodology, which posits that research should begin from the questions arising in the daily lives of oppressed populations. This approach, which she termed studying up, focuses on analyzing the practices and cultures of dominant institutions. Her work sought to align scientific research with pro-democratic goals, integrating feminist, anti-racist, and multicultural perspectives into natural and social science inquiries.
International Contributions and Controversy
Her influence extended to global policy through consultancies with UNESCO, the Pan American Health Organization, and various United Nations organizations. Despite this global reach, her work occasionally drew sharp criticism. During the 1990s Science Wars, critics targeted her approach to value-neutrality. Her 1986 book, The Science Question in Feminism, ignited scholarly debate regarding her use of metaphors for the scientific method, a statement she later indicated regret for making.
Fast facts
- Born: 1935, San Francisco
- Died: 5 March 2025
- Undergraduate Degree: Douglass College, 1956
- Doctorate: UCLA, 1973
- John Desmond Bernal Prize: 2013
- Jessie Bernard Award: 1987
- Primary Fields: Feminism, Epistemology, Postcolonialism
Questions readers ask
What is strong objectivity?
It is a research standard developed by Harding that requires researchers to examine the cultural and institutional assumptions of dominant groups to achieve a more rigorous and less biased understanding of science.
Did Harding contribute to international scientific policy?
Yes, she served as a consultant for organizations such as UNESCO and the U.N. Commission on Science and Technology for Development, co-editing reports on gender dimensions in science.
Achievements
- John Desmond Bernal Prize — 2013
- Held posts at University of California, Los Angeles
- Fields: feminist philosophy, postcolonialism and epistemology
