SumBlog 11

http://faculty.maxwell.syr.edu

Dorothy Smith 

Smith’s sociological theory is composed of three main points: Standpoint theory, Bifurcated Consciousness, and Alternative Sociology.

The first being Standpoint theory, is fully emerging yourself into a culture to gain a better understanding of the beliefs shared within it. This meaning that we as observers should not observe from the outside of a culture but to truly understand another ones culture you must place yourself within it and do your observing within. With the hopes of becoming more knowledgeable about each others cultures. This standpoint theory can be looked at in two ways: experiences and perspectives. Experiences being the ones that you speak of and perspectives being the hands-on learning and experiences you put in.

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Missionary. Is one example that I can think of when talking about the standpoint theory. Most missionary emerge themselves with in the culture they are trying to serve. They become familiar with the culture and become comfortable around the people of that culture familiar with their beliefs. Until they feel comfortable enough to share their with them.

The second being Bifurcated Consciousness. Bifurcation: distinction between the world as we experience it and the world as we come to know it through the conceptual frameworks that science invents” ( Dorothy Smith, 1926). Bifurcated: to divide into two branches or parts (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 2013). Dorothy explains Bifurcated Consciousness to be the identity of a women and as a women sociologist. Meaning that sociology is traditionally made up of a male dominated career and most of the studies and books written and done about sociology are going to be in a male point-of-view (standpoint). Dorothy see and deal with the Bifurcated Consciousness herself because she has the division in which she is a female and is involved in a male dominated career. Her tools: books, case studies are done from a males point-of-view and her experiences being different form what her tools are saying because she is female and is looked at through her point-of-view. This having the barrier of the Bifurcated Consciousness.

The third being Alternative Sociology.

“An alternative sociology would be a means of anyone of understanding

how the world comes about for us and how it is organized so that it

happens to us as it does in our experience. An alternative sociology, from

the standpoint of women, makes the everyday world problematic” (

Lemert, 2013).

The meaning that we are to learn and explore by using our own knowledge to better understand and unfold what is going on around us.