Epistemic Justice in Self-Narrative

Transitions often involve others questioning or doubting our account of our changing identity. Someone who shifts careers may face skepticism; someone entering a new relationship may encounter doubt about their transformed values. Epistemic injustice occurs when others systematically discount our authority over our own experience and identity. Sor Juana fought epistemic injustice by insisting on her right to interpret her own intellectual journey and defend her choices. This concept applies directly to transitions: you possess authority over your identity narrative that no external observer can override. When family, friends, or institutions resist your self-understanding during transitions, you may face epistemic injustice. Reclaiming this concept means asserting your credibility as the primary knower of your own identity evolution, documenting your transition story, and resisting internalized doubts about your own authority regarding who you are becoming.