Transformational family science: Praxis, possibility, and promise

Abstract

We advance a transformational family science as an engaged practice that may serve social justice and an anti‐racist project. Our companion paper proposed epistemic revelatory interventions through which family science may re‐imagine itself. We highlight pillars of a transformational family science that (a) build with epistemological and paradigmatic stances of peripherals; (b) infuse an ethic of reflexivity, accountability, and responsibility in the pursuit of knowledge claims, and their validation; and (c) engage a critical interrogation of difference and power relations and the disruption of systemic and structural inequalities in which they are aligned. Informed by epistemic praxes, transformational praxes include inquiry, knowledge production, theorizing about structured inequalities, power differentials, and differences bound to social categories and social identities, as well as pedagogy and professional training. Transformative applications that are compensatory, reformative, restorative, reparative, and transformative may be used in multiple ways to advance social justice, anti‐racism, and social transformations.

Testimonio as a methodology in the study of sexual and intimate partner violence

“…Finally, it is of the utmost importance for reflexivity to result in action or change. In addition to naming potential assumptions and biases, researchers must explicitly challenge dominant paradigms in family science with the express purpose of reducing inequality (Allen, 2023; Hunter et al, 2022).…”

Introduction to the special issue on theorizing families, anti‐racism, and social justice

“…They conclude by proposing a critical praxis that can lead to transformative social justice work in the lives of the families we study. Finally, Hunter, Tarver, and Jones (2022) articulate a transformational Family Science that could serve to disrupt systemic and structural inequalities by utilizing the perspectives of Peripherals, practicing reflexivity and accountability, and engaging in the interrogation of power relations and differences.…”