Epistemic Injustice Experienced by a Hard-of-Hearing Female Student: An Autoethnographic Inquiry
Journal of Transformative Praxis, Volume 6, Issue 1, June 2025, 27-40, https://doi.org/10.51474/jrtp/16643
Online publication date: Jun 28, 2025
Publication date: Jun 30, 2025
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This article presents an evocative autoethnography that offers a critical space and possibilities to overcome the epistemic injustice experienced by individuals who are hard-of-hearing. Through the self-reflections of the author, a female student, it reveals the hidden truths about the justice system's inclusion practices for individuals who are hard-of-hearing. Autoethnography that helps me navigate the fragmented lives presents the journey in (non) chronological segments, detailing the emotions stemming from deeply rooted epistemic injustices concerning the knowledge and experiences of individuals who are hard-of-hearing. While it recounts a personal story, it also resonates with many other minorities who continuously strive to legitimize their voices amidst a dominant, inclusive perspective. Through these personal narratives, the article features meaningful gaps in research pertaining to deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. The study makes a strong case that the needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals are distinct, emphasizing the importance of understanding these differences through the lens of social justice.
I would like to express my gratitude to Assistant Professor Shree K. Wagley, PhD, of Kathmandu University School of Education, for his invaluable support as a critical friend, providing critical insights and theoretically informed suggestions. His engagement with my self-reflective narratives has played a pivotal role in shaping this article.