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Intersectionality is a sociological analytical framework for understanding how groups' and individuals' social and political identities result in unique combinations of discrimination and privilege.
But what exactly does intersectionality mean, and who coined the term? Intersectionality first appeared in professor Kimberlé Crenshaw’s 1989 paper for the University of Chicago Legal Forum. Titled “Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: A Black Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrine, Feminist Theory and Antiracist ...
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
The meaning of INTERSECTIONALITY is the complex, cumulative way in which the effects of multiple forms of discrimination (such as racism, sexism, and classism) combine, overlap, or intersect especially in the experiences of marginalized individuals or groups.
- Overview
- History of the Concept of Intersectionality
- Examples of Intersectionality
- Why Intersectionality Is Important
- How to Care for Yourself
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Intersectionality acknowledges that each individual has multiple identities and is subject to various forms of intersecting oppression.
The Term Intersectionality Was Coined in 1989
Crenshaw first introduced the term in 1989 in her seminal article for the University of Chicago Legal Forum titled, “Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: A Black Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrine, Feminist Theory, and Antiracist Politics.”
The Term Was Used to Explain the Varying Layers of Oppression
She later expanded on the term in her 1991 article, “Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence Against Women of Color.” In this latter article, Crenshaw illustrated a Black woman’s experiences navigating interpersonal violence. This article spoke to examples of Black rape survivors being silenced, differences in how Black men are treated in the court of law, and how domestic violence survivors are subjugated to layered experiences of oppression based on their race, gender identity, and socioeconomic status. Thus, Crenshaw integrated the term intersectionality into scholarly discourse in the following years to illustrate how Black women can be excluded from interrogations of gender or racial oppression due to the complex layers of oppression Black women experience. Though the term was conceptualized in 1989, it didn’t become mainstream until much later. Then, in 2015 it was added as a sociological term to the Oxford English Dictionary. Systemic Racism Takes a Toll on BIPOC Mental Health
While we have the underpinnings of the theory under our belts after a brief primer of its origin story, that isn’t enough to understand how intersectionality applies in practice.
So here are some examples:
•Transgender people of color have reported increased experiences of injustice and abuse within the medical system compared to their White counterparts. This is due to them not only experiencing the oppression of being transgender but also being non-white.
•A Black man with an Ivy League degree is hired simultaneously as a White man with an Ivy League degree. Despite working extra hours each week, regularly exceeding the expectations of the job requirements, and receiving flawless performance reviews, the Black man is not promoted to partner. In contrast, his White colleague did not work overtime, didn't take on any extra projects, and received mediocre performance reviews, but he was promoted. The Black man was not. The main difference between these two people is the color of their skin. Both experience the social privilege of gender since they are both men in a patriarchal society. However, the Black man holds less privilege due to his racial identity, and the White man experiences increased privilege due to his race.
•Latina women earn lower wages and are overrepresented in jobs that offer low compensation, specifically when compared to White women.
Deadnaming—What It Is and Why It's Harmful to Mental Health
Racism, sexism, ageism, and differences in economic status have led to significant divides in our country. Finding language to better understand the systems of oppression existing in our country can support us in building a better future.
Civil rights activist, scholar, and writer Audre Lorde once wrote, “The master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house. They may allow us to temporarily beat him at his own game, but they will never enable us to bring about genuine change.” In this quote, she references the intersectional oppression many people face in our country and acknowledges that a more equitable world will not be built by simply continuing in a broken system.
Consider Seeing a Therapist
Consider reaching out to a therapist for support. If finances are an issue, Open Path Collective is an organization with a diverse range of therapists offering sessions for as low as $40. Hoping to find a therapist with an identity similar to yours? Therapy for Black Girls, Inclusive Therapists, and the National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network are great directories to look at in your search. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Are DEI Initiatives Working? By Julia Childs Heyl, MSW Julia Childs Heyl, MSW, is a clinical social worker and writer. As a writer, she focuses on mental health disparities and uses critical race theory as her preferred theoretical framework. In her clinical work, she specializes in treating people of color experiencing anxiety, depression, and trauma through depth therapy and EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) trauma therapy.
Intersectionality emphasizes that different dimensions of identity are not isolated from one another; instead, they intertwine and overlap in intricate ways, resulting in distinct advantages or disadvantages, benefits or harms.
Intersectionality is how multiple identities interact to create unique patterns of oppression. Originally coined by American scholar and lawyer Kimberle Crenshaw, who drew inspiration from Black feminist movements in the US, the term highlights how race, gender, class, and other factors are interconnected.
May 20, 2019 · To many conservatives, intersectionality means “because you’re a minority, you get special standards, special treatment in the eyes of some.” It “ promotes solipsism at the personal level and...
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