Epistemic Justice and the Authority of Experience

Sor Juana insisted on the validity of her observations about scripture, theology, and human nature derived from her particular position as woman, New Spaniard, and intellectual outside formal priesthood. Epistemic justice recognizes two harms: testimonial injustice (when listeners dismiss your knowledge because of who you are) and hermeneutical injustice (when communities lack concepts to interpret your experience). Intersectionality requires affirming that people navigating multiple oppressions develop insights unavailable to those positioned within dominant systems. This isn't about romantic victimhood but about epistemological reality: someone experiencing sexism, colonialism, and class constraint simultaneously can perceive patterns invisible to the privileged. Sor Juana's theological arguments gained force precisely from her outsider perspective. In practice, this means listening to those most impacted by systems, trusting their analysis, and resisting the urge to validate their knowledge only through dominant frameworks. This concept applies when building movements, creating policy, or generating knowledge.