Expanding Epistemic Appropriation

Abstract

In this article, I propose an expanded conceptualization of epistemic appropriation. I argue that epistemic appropriation can be either wrongful or non-wrongful, and that it can occur in all directions – from marginalized to dominant communities, but also from dominant to marginalized communities. Furthermore, I argue that epistemic appropriation can take place both inter- and intra-communally. Lastly, I argue that the epistemic resources that are appropriated do not have to originate in the community they are appropriated from to be considered appropriation, as this can also take place when a community has a stake in a certain use of these resources. In doing so, I come to the following, stripped-down, definition: epistemic appropriation is the uptake of epistemic resources that obscures something about the resources.