co-facilitated by Dr. Marika Kunnas, Serikbolsyn Tastanbek, Anastasia Zhuravleva
In this online meeting of LLED Antiracist Caucuses (IBPOC/Racialized Caucus & White Caucus), we discussed the application and misapplication of antiracist theoretical frameworks outside of their original contexts; in other words, epistemic appropriation. We reflected on intersectionality’s uptake in feminism and social justice movements broadly, as well as the use of Indigenous frameworks and methodologies in research by non-Indigenous scholars. We considered different ways of countering epistemic appropriation as scholars striving toward antiracist methodologies that decenter dominant epistemologies.
Required Stimulus texts:
- Intersectionality Is a Hot Topic — and So Is the Term’s Misuse: https://truthout.org/articles/intersectionality-is-a-hot-topic-and-so-is-the-terms-misuse/ (10 min)
- Using Indigenous Metaphors in Research: Appropriating or Engaging?
- Amy Cardinal Christianson on the appropriation of Indigenous knowledge (1 min)
Optional Texts:
- Kimberlé Crenshaw on Intersectionality, More than Two Decades Later: https://www.law.columbia.edu/news/archive/kimberle-crenshaw-intersectionality-more-two-decades-later
- Podosky, P. C. (2023). Rethinking epistemic appropriation. Episteme, 20(1), 142-162. https://doi.org/10.1017/epi.2021.8
- Bilge, S. (2013). INTERSECTIONALITY UNDONE: Saving intersectionality from feminist intersectionality studies. Du Bois Review, 10(2), 405-424. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742058X13000283
Discussion Questions
During the caucus discussion, we will focus on the following questions:
- How can we avoid epistemic appropriation?
- How can we counter our fears about being called out for appropriation?
- Does someone “own” intersectionality?
- Is using intersectionality beyond its original conceptualization epistemic appropriation?
- How can we counter dominant groups from appropriating and obscuring epistemic resources, as they have done with intersectionality, CRT, and woke?
- How do we challenge epistemic racism without also contributing to epistemic appropriation?
- How can we use intersectionality to further antiracism while honouring the original concept (or while building on it)?
- How can we engage with Indigenous epistemologies without contributing to epistemic appropriation?