Gender and Race profoundly shape our epistemic lives

PROMPT: It is arguable that gender and race profoundly shape our epistemic lives (or our lives as knowers), and that those who are identified as members of the categories “white” or “male/man” are taken to be more credible as knowers simply due to membership in these groups, while those who are identified as members of the categories “nonwhite” or “female/woman” have their credibility/ability as knowers systematically or routinely undermined simply due to membership in these groups. Please find an example in the world that supports just one part of this thesis, and explain why the book, film, political campaign, tweet, advertisement, statistic, song lyric, etc. you have found is illustrative of the phenomenon you’ve chosen to write on. Then consider how someone would object to your view, and offer a reply to your opponent. NOTE: It is not an option to write a paper claiming that there is no such example to be found in the world (and any such paper will receive a failing grade, as it will have failed to fulfill the requirements of the assignment). Even if you do not believe or support this thesis, it is your job in this paper to find evidence for it (much like a defense attorney who suspects that her client is actually guilty must present the best case or argument for their innocence). Also, although these examples should come from your everyday life (rather than simply a text we have read in class), make sure that the example is not merely anecdotal so that you can successfully share your example with your classmates and make your case as convincing as possible. Finally, be sure that if (you don’t have to!) you choose an example that fits into a category we will go on to explore in class (such as “mansplaining,” or “gaslighting,” etc.) that you define those terms and still choose an actual example from the world, rather than a mere mentioning of the whole class of acts that could fall under those labels. Finally, you may choose an example where there is an intersection of identities at play, but note that it might be harder to argue your point in a comprehensive and convincing manner in just 4 pages.