Feminist epistemology in Information Science: critical analysis for the transformation of the discipline

Abstract

Information Science has undergone a profound transformation in recent decades, not only in its object of study and research methods, but also in its epistemological conception. Traditional epistemology, based on the notion of objectivity and neutrality, has been challenged by various schools of thought, including feminist epistemology. Feminist epistemology emerged as a school of thought that questions the traditional foundations of scientific knowledge, exposing how these have been constructed from a masculine and androcentric perspective. In the field of Information Science, this current has gained relevance in recent decades, driving a critical analysis of the paradigms, methodologies, and research practices that have dominated the discipline. This paper analyzes its main postulates, schools of thought, and relevant authors. It also explores the implications of this epistemology for the transformation of the discipline, including the need to rethink the objects of study, research methodologies, and professional practices. Concepts such as objectivity, situated knowledge, feminist methodology, and the ethics of scientific positioning are analyzed, impacting areas such as information organization science, information retrieval, information literacy, and information ethics. Strategies are proposed for incorporating feminist epistemology into the practices of Information Science, fostering a reflective and critical praxis that contributes to a more just and inclusive society. Feminist epistemology is not only a critique but also a tool for transformation, offering new possibilities for knowledge construction and professional practice in Information Science.