In Remembrance of Former CSW Director, Dr. Sandra G. Harding
The UCLA Center for the Study of Women|Barbra Streisand Center mourns the passing of Dr. Sandra G. Harding, a pioneering scholar in feminist and postcolonial philosophy, and a profound influence in critical science and technology studies. Dr. Harding, who served as Director of the Center for the Study of Women from 1996 to 1999, leaves behind an enduring legacy of intellectual inquiry, activism, and mentorship.
Harding’s groundbreaking work in standpoint theory reshaped the landscape of feminist epistemology and the philosophy of science. She challenged the traditional view of science as neutral and objective, instead framing it as a socially and culturally embedded practice. Her theory of “strong objectivity” called for research that prioritizes the perspectives and lived experiences of those historically marginalized from knowledge production, providing a framework that continues to inform feminist, decolonial, and critical methodologies today.
During her tenure as director of the Center for the Study of Women, Harding expanded the center’s programming, overseeing more than 60 lectures and conferences annually. She was instrumental in launching new student awards, initiating the Meet Our Authors: Book Signing and Reception, and sponsoring lecture series on pivotal topics such as feminist controversies and gender and science. Her leadership fostered an environment where interdisciplinary feminist scholarship could flourish.
Harding’s academic career was expansive, beginning at the University of Delaware in 1975 before she joined UCLA in 1996, where she served as Distinguished Professor of Education and Women’s Studies. Over her career, she authored or edited 18 books, including the seminal The Science Question in Feminism and The ‘Racial’ Economy of Science: Toward a Democratic Future. Her work extended far beyond academia; she was a consultant for international organizations such as UNESCO, UNIFEM, and the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development.
In addition to her scholarship, Harding was deeply committed to fostering intellectual communities. She played a crucial role in early feminist philosophy movements, contributing to the founding of Hypatia: A Journal of Feminist Philosophy and later co-editing Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society from 2000 to 2005. In 2016, she collaborated with Latin American scholars to co-found Tapuya: Latin American Science, Technology, and Society, a journal dedicated to amplifying STS perspectives from the Global South.
Her contributions to feminist and postcolonial science studies were recognized globally. She delivered over 500 invited lectures across six continents and received numerous accolades, including the John Desmond Bernal Prize from the Society for the Social Studies of Science in 2013.
CSW|Streisand Center community honors her life and contributions, and we extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues. Her vision and scholarship will continue to shape feminist inquiry and activism for generations to come.
