Epistemic Justice and Gender Knowledge

Sor Juana fought against epistemic injustice—the systematic dismissal of women's intellectual authority—by producing rigorous theological and scientific work. This concept applies to cisgender identity examination by questioning who gets to define what gender means and whose experiences count as valid knowledge. Historically, cisgender norms have been presented as natural rather than as particular knowledge claims worthy of scrutiny. Through this lens, we examine how cisgender individuals can validate their own experiential knowledge about identity rather than deferring entirely to medical, religious, or scientific authorities. This includes honoring intuitive understanding alongside intellectual analysis, and recognizing that multiple valid ways of knowing gender exist. Epistemic justice requires listening to diverse voices, including those challenging dominant narratives about what cisgender identity should entail.