FONDECYT Postdoctorado No. 3700770 (2020-2023): The Social Epistemology of Trauma.

The general objective of this project is to develop an applied, social epistemology of gender-based violence testimony in both institutional and private contexts. The project will focus on developing a philosophical account of the epistemic injustices involved in two closely related, social phenomena: First, that when the survivors of gender-based violence report the violence that they have suffered, their testimony is often undervalued and sometimes ignored completely. Second, that many other survivors apparently do not report the violence inflicted upon them at all, reportedly because they believe that to do so is pointless, since their testimony will not be accepted, and even dangerous, since they may face repercussions such as shaming, victim-blaming, or even more violence. In its exploration of these injustices, this investigation will critically evaluate the increasingly common recommendation that institutions and private individuals alike implement a policy of believing the victim.