WOMEN’S WAYS OF KNOWINGFive Stages of Knowing• Silence• Received Knowledge• Subjective Knowledge• Procedural Knowledge• Constructed Knowledge

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“IF A WOMEN IS TO CONSIDER HERSELF A REAL KNOWER, SHE MUST FIND ACCEPTANCE FOR IDEAS IN THE PUBLIC WORLD” (BELENKY, CLINCHY, GOLDBERGER, & TARULE, 1986, P. 220).

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RECEIVED KNOWLEDGE

Received Knowledge holders see knowledge as absolute truths from absolute authorities.

Black and White Thinking involves receiving and repeating knowledge from the point of view of those in positions of power.

Words and their meanings remain external, but are no longer seen as invoking harm.

Ambiguity reinforces the need for unquestioned polarities and increases these women's marginalized positions.

Believe that authorities, not friends hold absolute truths of knowledge.

Friends must share the receiver's beliefs, or confidence diminishes, and friendship is not trusted.

Repeating information back to those in authority is associated with this level of knowing which comparable to a military type of mindset.

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WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE RECEIVED KNOWLEDGE FOR WOMEN Their moral judgments conformed to that

expected in their society. They looked to others for knowledge of self or for socially constructed social or occupational roles. This often created high expectations because they saw the need to live up to others' views of them.

Mary Belenky et al. publish Women's Ways of Knowing

SUBJECTIVE KNOWLEDGE Distrust logic, analysis, abstraction, and even language itself--some see these

methods belonging to men Lack of grounding in a secure, integrated, and enduring self-concept Fear that using combative measures in support of her opinion may jeopardize

connections with others "...Not at all the masculine assertion that 'I have a right to my opinion';

rather, it is the modest, inoffensive statement, 'It's just my opinion.'" A sense of voice arises Truth is an intuitive reaction, experienced not thought out. Still the conviction that there are right answers; the source of truth shifted

locale-- truth comes from within the person and can negate external answers--women become their own authorities

First hand experience is a valuable source of knowledge--The predominant learning mode is inward listening and watching

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WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE SUBJECTIVE KNOWLEDGE Women begin to recognize self as an authority, rely on

own subjective thoughts, gain an inner voice. Block out conflicting opinions of others. Love and Guthrie (1999) emphasize that the transition

to subjective knowledge was most often driven by positive changes in the personal lives of women (a shift to equitable, mutually-respectful and supportive relationships and away from abusive relationships in particular), rather than experiences within the educational system.

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TAKEAWAY Belnky, Clinchy, Goldberger & Tarule’s book

“Womens Ways of Knowing”, gave insight to how women looked at learning and knowledge and brought about the importance of gender roles in education and society. It identified five different stages of learning.

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