Structural injustice and supra-individual alienation: an inquiry into their interconnections through three literary examples

The essay discusses the relations between structural injustice and objective alienation (also called supra- individual alienation): that is, a type of social alienation where human-established norms and practices are perceived as unchangeable external forces, necessary and prescribing adaptation. These rigidified and “naturalized” norms and practices often conceal and reinforce relations of structural injustice, and, in turn, are sustained by them. I aim at inquiring, also by applying an intersectional perspective, the theoretical and practical relations between the two: I highlight their mutual differences, explore their interconnections, and outline potential normative strategies for addressing them comprehensively. I do this with the help of fictional, but realistic examples taken from literary and philosophical works, such as Richard Wright’s novel Native Son, Theodor Fontane’s Effi Briest, Doris Lessing’s short story “To Room Nineteen”, as well as examples provided by Iris Marion Young and Rahel Jaeggi.