'Lived Experience' Is Valued in Activism, but Is It Doing More Harm than Good?

'Lived experience' is valued in activism, but is it doing more harm than good?

The idea of "lived experience"—knowledge gained through direct, personal experience—is now central in activism, academia and politics. Popularized by feminist thinkers like Simone de Beauvoir and concepts like standpoint theory, it makes sense that people see the world differently based on what they've been through. And movements like #MeToo showed how sharing personal stories, particularly for oppressed, marginalized or victimized groups, can d…

‘Lived experience’ is valued in activism – but is it doing more harm than good?

A Pride march in Istanbul, 2018. Lumiereist/ShutterstockThe idea of “lived experience” – knowledge gained through direct, personal experience – is now central in activism, academia and politics. Popularised by feminist thinkers like Simone de Beauvoir and concepts like standpoint theory, it makes sense that people see the world differently based on what they’ve been through. And movements like #MeToo showed how sharing personal stories, particul…