emphasizes inclusive community and action. This has resulted in a resurgence of feminist activism and further integration of intersecting identities, like the unique perspective of Black women and abortion rights. Standpoint theorist, Patricia Hill Collins, highlights the resonance of Standpoint Theory with Black feminist groups, in that, standpoint theory can be used as a framework for understanding Black feminist thought. Standpoint theory can be a framework for understanding the oppression of Black women or what feminist theorist, Catherine E. Harnois, coins as the “Black women’s standpoint.” Key concepts Generally, standpoint theory gives insight into specific circumstances only available to the members of a certain collective standpoint. According to Michael Ryan, "the idea of a collective standpoint does not imply an essential overarching characteristic but rather a sense of belonging to a group bounded by a shared experience." Kristina Rolin states that "the assumption of essentialism is that all women share the same socially grounded perspective in virtue of being women, the assumption of automatic epistemic privilege is that epistemic advantage accrues to the subordinate automatically, just in virtue of their occupying a particular social position." According to this approach: A standpoint is a place from which human beings view the world. A standpoint influences how the people adopting it socially construct the world. A standpoint is a mental position from which things are viewed. A standpoint is a position from which objects or principles are viewed and according to which they are compared and judged. The inequalities of different social groups create differences in their standpoints. All standpoints are partial; so (for example) standpoint feminism coexists with other standpoints. Key Terms Social Location: Viewpoints and perspectives are ultimately created through the groups that we subscribe to (created by connections through race, gender, etc.). Epistemology: The theory of knowledge Intersectionality: The characteristics of an individual's life, such as race and gender, that come together to create all aspects of one's identity. Matrix of Domination: Societal systems put in place that support the dominant group's power. Local Knowledge: Knowledge that is rooted in an individual's beliefs, experiences, along with time and place. Applications Since standpoint theory focuses on marginalized populations, it is often applied within fields that focus on these populations. Standpoint has been referenced as a concept that should be acknowledged and understood in the social work field, especially when approaching and assisting clients. Social workers seek to understand the concept