Toward a Du Boisian paradigm of family science

Abstract

We offer an invitation to the Du Boisian paradigm for family science. We outline this paradigm in relation to Guba and Lincoln's ontological, epistemological, and methodological questions and our addition of the phenomenological question. A Du Boisian paradigm meets the need for a social justice orientation in social science scholarship, which is equipped to identify, contextualize, and respond to oppression across the globe. A social justice orientation recognizes the centrality of the carceral state and racial capitalism and tends to their ramifications in seeking the transformation of the conditions that produce harm. We offer historical and contemporary examples from diverse disciplines on myriad topics to highlight social justice-oriented scholarship that has already done the work of pushing the bounds of how we engage with academic research, theory, and praxis, as well as points of consideration for work yet to be done in service of eradicating oppression.