Gender Inequality Indicies and Epistemic Justice: A Review of the European Institute for Gender Equality Index

In efforts to bring local knowledge to a regional/global platform and introduce new concepts and definitions, international gender inequality indices and their selected indicators have become important references in the production and dissemination of knowledge related to gender inequality. Although the use of these indices by both academics and policymakers to assess gender inequality has increased over time, they are frequently criticized for their insufficiency in doing so and areas in need of improvement for better measurement. This study addresses the question of how the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) Gender Equality Index (GEI) contributes to epistemic injustice related to gender inequality. To this end, the indicators, methodology, and uses of the GEI index will be critically analyzed focusing on its conceptualization, indicators, data use and measurement. The study aims to advance critical academic discussions on gender inequality indices by highlighting the epistemic injustices in an effort to emphasize the importance of data use in social activism and advocacy.