Social sciences, feminism, and the image of male domination

Elaborating on the origin of gender according to philosophy of science in general and social sciences in particular, the paper examines the claim of the existence of a “feminist science” and critically analyzes the underlying assumptions, presuppositions, and the logic of methodological analysis of such a science, and its abilities to account for social problems. The starting point of the feminist science is its criticisms of the existing social sciences, with the most important theoretical and methodological challenges arising from the contradictions between the proponents and opponents of feminist science, which are also dealt with in this paper. In addition, the paper concentrates on the necessity of paying attention to time and place conditions of the subject matter under study (women in the society) and the necessity of paying attention to the methodological characteristics of the subject including multi-dimensionality, multi-originality, and multi-disciplinarily. The paper also stresses on the necessity of designing a native methodology in Iranian Islamic society, presents the characteristics of such native methodology on the basis of religious foundations, and offers the related arguments.