In this article, the EuroSense Project will introduce a very special term known as Epistemic Injustice.
The concept of being treated equally as a contributor of knowledge has gained recognition as a key element of justice in social and political philosophy. Unjust communication structures, institutions, and practices can perpetuate and worsen existing social and economic inequalities.
Epistemic injustice refers to the unfair treatment of individuals based on biases related to gender, background, ethnicity, race, accent, and more—hindering their credibility and voice as knowers in society.
In a democracy, everyone’s voice should matter, especially in decision-making. Epistemic injustice undermines this by excluding certain perspectives, weakening democratic values like equality and inclusivity.
Epistemic injustice profoundly impacts democracy and decision-making processes. When marginalised voices are systematically devalued or ignored, decision-making loses essential perspectives, reducing both the quality and legitimacy of outcomes. In democratic contexts, this exclusion weakens trust and alienates citizens, compromising the very principle of equal participation. Addressing epistemic injustice in democracy involves fostering inclusivity, valuing diverse insights, and building trust in participatory processes to create policies that genuinely reflect and serve all communities.
Two Types of Epistemic Injustice
- Testimonial Injustice: When someone’s knowledge is dismissed due to prejudice.
- Example: Consider a young female climate scientist whose warnings about environmental risks are downplayed in political discussions. Because of her age and gender, decision-makers may not fully value her expertise, leading to testimonial injustice.
- Hermeneutical Injustice: When society lacks the language or framework to understand certain experiences.
- Example: Women historically struggled to describe sexual harassment before there was a widely accepted term for it. Without the term “sexual harassment,” their experiences were often misunderstood or minimized in workplaces and politics, limiting their ability to demand change.
Epistemic Injustice in Democratic Decision-Making
Marginalised Women in Politics
Imagine a political debate on healthcare, where a panel of mostly men discusses issues impacting women’s health. When women share their experiences with childbirth or maternal healthcare, their perspectives may be dismissed as “emotional” rather than “rational.” This limits the diversity of insights and leads to policies that don’t fully address the needs of all citizens, illustrating testimonial injustice.
Impact on Policy Quality and Trust
When the voices of certain groups are repeatedly ignored, policies risk being ineffective, as they don’t consider the needs of all citizens. Over time, marginalized groups may lose faith in the democratic system, feeling their voices are systematically undervalued.
How Epistemic Injustice Affects Broader Society
Youth Voices on Climate Change
Young environmental activists have raised awareness of climate issues, but they often face resistance from older leaders who may label them as “naive” or “alarmist.” This testimonial injustice means that young people’s legitimate concerns about their futures are downplayed, and policies don’t always reflect the urgency they feel.
Long-Term Impact
Ignoring these voices perpetuates a cycle where only certain perspectives shape policies, leaving others disenfranchised. In the long run, this creates a less resilient, less informed society, as critical viewpoints are continually sidelined.
Addressing Epistemic Injustice to Strengthen Democracy
Strategies for Inclusion
Diverse Representation
Include people of varied backgrounds in decision-making bodies, so policies better reflect society’s diversity.
Promoting Education and Awareness
Teaching people about epistemic injustice can help dismantle biases, encouraging them to value a wider range of perspectives.
Encouraging Participatory Tools
Tools like SenseMaker allow marginalized groups to share their stories and insights, highlighting overlooked perspectives and giving decision-makers a fuller picture of societal issues.,
By gathering personal stories and asking participants to interpret their own experiences, the SenseMaker helps counter epistemic injustice by valuing firsthand perspectives, especially those from marginalized voices. It captures diverse experiences that might otherwise be ignored or misunderstood, creating a richer, more inclusive dataset for decision-makers.
By allowing people to categorize and reflect on their stories, SenseMaker fosters “epistemic agency,” helping individuals articulate insights that traditional methods may overlook. This inclusive approach can inform policies that better address the needs and experiences of all community members.
Help EuroSense counter epistemic injustice in Europe and share your story here:
Learn More about the EuroSense Project…
The EuroSense project is a kick-starting citizen science initiative participating in the 2024 IMPETUS Accelerator Programme. Coordinated by the team at Volt Europa, EuroSense aims to establish a Europe-wide network of citizen scientists to navigate societal complexities, inform meaningful policy actions, and amplify voices often overlooked by policymakers and officials.
To achieve this, EuroSense collaborated with scientists and researchers from Complexity Partners and IFIS – Institute for Integrale Studien to develop SenseMaker. This innovative online tool empowers citizens to share and interpret their experiences. The SenseMaker app enables organisations to leverage this anonymized data, identify patterns, focus on emerging trends, and drive positive change by joining the EuroSense network as partners.
As a EuroSense partner, you can fully benefit from the project’s resources by gathering stories from your community with SenseMaker, amplifying their voices across Europe. By analysing this data, you’ll gain insights into emerging issues and understand the priorities of the people and causes you serve. The EuroSense team also supports the sensemaking process, helping lay the foundation for local actions or influencing policy.
Explore their work further below, or share your story today.
