Epistemic Justice in Accountability

Sor Juana fought for her right to be heard as a knower and thinker despite her gender and social position. Epistemic justice—respecting someone's capacity to generate and share knowledge—becomes essential in restorative approaches to harm. Punitive systems often dismiss or devalue the accounts of those harmed, particularly marginalized groups. Restorative practices that center epistemic justice actively listen to and validate the knowledge, experience, and interpretation of those affected by harm. Sor Juana's example shows that silencing voices perpetuates injustice. In accountability circles and restorative dialogues, elevating the testimony and perspective of harmed parties—especially those historically marginalized—creates conditions for genuine understanding. This transforms the process from punishment handed down by authorities to collaborative truth-telling where all participants are recognized as knowers capable of contributing to understanding and healing.