Epistemic Microaggressions

Abstract

Abstract This chapter provides an overview and analysis of epistemic microaggressions. In medical contexts, epistemic microaggressions are intentional or unintentional verbal or gestural slights made by healthcare professionals that dismiss, ignore, or otherwise fail to recognize claims that patients make about their bodies. Epistemic microaggressions result in epistemic harm to recipients, namely, harm to them in their capacity as knowers. Drawing on medical cases of patients who are members of marginalized groups, the chapter demonstrates how epistemic microaggressions can lead to a variety of serious short- and long-term harms for patients and therefore ought to be avoided by healthcare professionals. Special attention is paid to the moral significance of epistemic microaggressions in medical contexts.