Intersectionality is a framework for understanding how completely different types of oppression and discrimination overlap and work together. The time period was first coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989 to explain the methods during which Black girls expertise a number of types of discrimination, akin to racism, sexism, and classism. Nonetheless, the idea of intersectionality may be utilized to any group of people that expertise a number of types of oppression.
Intersectionality is essential as a result of it helps us to know how completely different types of oppression are interconnected and the way they work collectively to create distinctive experiences of discrimination and marginalization. For instance, a Black girl who can be working class and LGBTQ+ might expertise discrimination in several methods than a Black girl who’s center class and heterosexual. It is because the completely different types of oppression she experiences intersect with one another and create a singular set of challenges.
Within the following sections, we are going to discover the idea of intersectionality in additional element and talk about among the ways in which it may be used to know and deal with social injustice.
Intersectionality
Intersectionality is a framework for understanding how completely different types of oppression and discrimination overlap and work together.
- A number of types of oppression
- Overlapping and interconnected
- Distinctive experiences of discrimination
- Kimberlé Crenshaw coined the time period
- Black girls’s experiences
- Relevant to all marginalized teams
- Software for understanding social injustice
- Promotes social justice and fairness
Intersectionality is a strong instrument for understanding and addressing social injustice. It helps us to see how completely different types of oppression work collectively to create distinctive experiences of discrimination and marginalization. By understanding intersectionality, we will work to create a extra simply and equitable world for all.
A number of types of oppression
Intersectionality acknowledges that folks can expertise a number of types of oppression and discrimination concurrently. These types of oppression may be primarily based on elements akin to race, gender, class, sexual orientation, incapacity, and faith.
-
Racism and sexism
Black girls in the US expertise each racism and sexism. They’re extra more likely to be poor, unemployed, and incarcerated than white girls. They’re additionally extra more likely to expertise violence and sexual assault.
-
Classism and ableism
Individuals with disabilities are sometimes discriminated towards within the office, in housing, and in training. They’re additionally extra more likely to reside in poverty and to expertise violence.
-
Homophobia and transphobia
LGBTQ+ individuals typically face discrimination in employment, housing, and healthcare. They’re additionally extra more likely to expertise violence and harassment.
-
Non secular discrimination
Individuals of sure non secular teams typically face discrimination in employment, housing, and training. They’re additionally extra more likely to expertise violence and harassment.
These are just some examples of the a number of types of oppression that folks can expertise. Intersectionality teaches us that these types of oppression are interconnected and that they work collectively to create distinctive experiences of discrimination and marginalization.
Overlapping and interconnected
Intersectionality teaches us that completely different types of oppression and discrimination usually are not separate and distinct, however fairly that they overlap and intersect in complicated methods. Which means individuals who expertise a number of types of oppression expertise a singular and compounded type of discrimination that’s larger than the sum of its components.
For instance, a Black girl who can be working class and LGBTQ+ might expertise discrimination in several methods than a Black girl who’s center class and heterosexual. It is because the completely different types of oppression she experiences intersect with one another and create a singular set of challenges.
One other instance is an individual with a incapacity who can be an individual of colour. This particular person might expertise discrimination within the office due to their incapacity and due to their race. They might additionally expertise discrimination in housing and in healthcare. The completely different types of oppression they expertise intersect with one another and create a singular and compounded type of discrimination.
Intersectionality helps us to know how completely different types of oppression are interconnected and the way they work collectively to create distinctive experiences of discrimination and marginalization. This understanding is important for growing efficient methods to deal with social injustice and to create a extra simply and equitable world for all.
Listed below are some particular examples of how completely different types of oppression can overlap and intersect:
- A Black girl who can be working class might expertise discrimination within the office due to her race and her class. She could also be paid lower than white women and men, and she or he could also be much less more likely to be promoted.
- A homosexual man who can be an individual of colour might expertise discrimination in housing due to his sexual orientation and his race. He could also be denied housing or charged larger hire.
- A lady with a incapacity who can be an individual of colour might expertise discrimination in healthcare due to her incapacity and her race. She could also be denied care or obtain decrease high quality care.
These are just some examples of the numerous ways in which completely different types of oppression can overlap and intersect. Intersectionality teaches us that these types of oppression usually are not separate and distinct, however fairly that they’re interconnected and that they work collectively to create distinctive experiences of discrimination and marginalization.
