I have a new article up on HuffPost called “Why Women are Not Taken Seriously In Sports Conversations”. To answer the question, I rely on Miranda Fricker’s concept of “epistemic injustice” and also offer up some solutions to end this type of bias treatment. You can view the full article here. Thanks to FeministPhilosophers.com for the shoutout. Here is an excerpt:
When we share knowledge and are dismissed not because of what we say but because of who we are, our individuality is disrespected and dignity withheld. So when someone refuses to listen to my opinion because I am a woman, African-American or a certain age, the offense is not because they did not listen to my knowledge per se, rather it is because they did not listen to me. This experience not only harms me, but the hearer loses out on an opportunity to hear true and useful information.
We must remember people are not knowledgeable because they are men or white or rich. Neither are people smart because of certain racial or sexual biological features. Rather we acquire knowledge through study and experience. What make us credible are not our biological features but the actual knowledge we possess. So what makes Stephen A. Smith a good sports analyst is the knowledge he has cultivated between his ears, not because of the presence of what’s between his legs.
Enjoyed the article very much. You offered a very approachable example in order to show the reader Miranda Fricker’s point. Then, the comment posters just proved epistemic injustice is real over and over and over.
My point exactly! Thanks for reading. There’s lots of work to be done.