A new essay examines how feminist studies contribute to greater objectivity in social sciences by challenging the illusory neutrality of researchers. Sociologists Éric Fassin and Caroline Ibos analyze the discipline's history and ethics amid current political attacks. Their book highlights the value of minority perspectives in enriching research.
Social sciences are increasingly targeted by attacks from right-wing and far-right political figures, as well as academics, in the United States, Europe, Brazil, and Russia. France is not spared from these criticisms, which accuse researchers of blending inquiry with ideology. It is in this context that sociologists Éric Fassin and Caroline Ibos, professors at université Paris-VIII-Vincennes-Saint-Denis, publish "La Savante et le Politique. Ce que le féminisme fait aux sciences sociales" (PUF, 328 pages, 20 euros). Drawing from Max Weber and feminist works, this dense essay calls for taking epistemological controversies seriously.
The authors return to theoretical sources to question the researcher's position, emphasizing that social sciences have always been political. They dismiss the notion of absolute neutrality and highlight feminist studies, which situate knowledge rather than merely correcting biases. These approaches open research to lived experiences, especially those of minorities, promoting a more nuanced objectivity.
The book's final section addresses the ethics of fieldwork in sociology. It recalls a little-known historical episode: around Jane Addams (1860-1935), women at Chicago's Hull House conducted investigations in workshops and children's courts, aiming for social reform. Deemed too political, these efforts were sidelined by male academics from the Chicago school, excluding their female authors.
Presented as "a sort of scientific guide to scholarly engagement," the book targets a university audience. It enriches the debate on research commitment amid contemporary pressures.
