Knowledge comes from practice Social Work from a feminist perspective

Abstract

This article proposes a dialogue between social work and feminist studies in the knowledge construction process, through the introduction of intersectionality as one of the ways to examine the range of differences that are encountered in daily professional practice. The study discusses the reductionism of the Marxist approach present in publications on this topic in Brazil and argues that the category of “gender” is a key element to understand and explain the status of the profession. The paper presents the three main trends in feminist epistemology: standpoint theory, feminist empiricism, and postmodern feminism. The distinctions among these trends arise out of how they establish relationships between women and science. The paper also emphasises the epistemological value accorded to the “experience” category for women and affirms the importance of reflecting on the dialectical relationship between the epistemological and the empirical, arguing that knowledge is fed by practice. The study concludes that “social work from a feminist perspective” will facilitate greater commitment on the part of professionals in intervention processes.