Neurofeminism as epistemological guerrilla

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34024/prometeica.2025.32.19515

Keywords:

Brain sexual differences, neurofeminism, feminist epistemology, knowledge surveillance, guerrilla epistemology

Abstract

The scientific establishment maintains a persistent belief that postulates the existence of sexual difference as an essential quality, that is, as a natural essence. This postulate further asserts that the brain is the most appropriate organ for investigating this essence. The advancement of neuroscience, coupled with the advent of neuroimaging technologies and the significant investment in brain research since the late 20th century, has generated considerable expectations in the scientific community and the general public regarding the prospects for neuroscientific research. Such circumstances may, on occasion, impede the appropriate advancement and consolidation of knowledge. A considerable number of scientific groups, laboratories, universities, research centres, private companies, large publishing groups and publishing platforms are engaged in an endeavour to unravel the great enigma of the human brain. The pursuit of sexual difference is one of the most sought-after objectives in this field of study. A number of scientists from various backgrounds have cautioned against the potential pitfalls of this approach. In this paper, I propose a critical epistemology that employs a vigilant and ongoing dialogue against the essentialism of sexual difference. I refer to this as epistemological guerrilla warfare. In this article, I present the example of neurofeminism as an instance of epistemological guerrilla warfare. The aim of this paper is to undertake a critical examination of a body of scientific research in the field of neuroscience through the use of this specific example.

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Author Biography

  • Sonia Reverter Bañón, Universitat Jaume I

    Professor of Philosophy and Director of the University Institute of Feminist and Gender Studies Purificación Escribano (Universitat Jaume I). Member of EUFEM (University Platform for Feminist and Gender Studies). Extensive teaching curriculum in the teaching of the gender perspective (bachelor's, master's and doctorate). She has been coordinator of the Master's degree ‘Applied Research in Feminist, Gender and Citizenship Studies’, of which she continues to be a lecturer. Priority lines of research: feminist theory, cyberfeminism, neurofeminism, feminist political theory, intersectional feminism, epistemological depatriarchalisation, the challenges of the capitalocene. She has published and edited articles and books and has participated extensively in conferences, seminars and congresses, both nationally and internationally. Some of the universities to which she has been invited: Berkeley (USA), Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Peace and Conflict Research Institute (Denmark), University of San Francisco (USA), Gender Institute of the London School of Economics (UK), Centre for Civil Society of the London School of Economics (UK), Associação Nacional de de Pós-graduação em Filosofia ANPOF (Brazil), Centro de Investigaciones Filosóficas (Buenos Aires), Instituto Interdisciplinario de Estudios de Género (Universidad de Buenos Aires), FLACSO (Cátedra Regional UNESCO Mujer, Ciencia y Tecnología).
    Her latest publications include: Epistemologies of violence against women. A proposal from the South (2022), Feminismo sin testamento (2022), La diferencia sexual en el cerebro (2022), Experiencias docentes de la introducción de la perspectiva de género (2022), Can Posthumanism be postsexist? (2023), Feminismo con todas (2023), El ciberfeminismo y los retos frente al capitalismo digital (2024).

    Academic affiliation: Professor, Department of Philosophy and Sociology (Universitat Jaume I). Director of the University Institute for Feminist and Gender Research (Universitat Jaume I).

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Prometeica v.32

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2025-03-01

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Vol. 32 (2025): Prometeica - v 32 (03/2025 - 12/2025)

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How to Cite

Reverter Bañón, S. (2025). Neurofeminism as epistemological guerrilla. Prometeica - Journal of Philosophy and Science, 32, e19515 (1-11). https://doi.org/10.34024/prometeica.2025.32.19515
Received 2024-09-18
Accepted 2024-12-15
Published 2025-03-01