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 wherein Black ladies expertise a number of types of discrimination, equivalent 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 necessary 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 also be working class and LGBTQ+ might expertise discrimination in numerous 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 focus on among the ways in which it may be used to know and handle 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 ladies’s experiences
- Relevant to all marginalized teams
- Software for understanding social injustice
- Promotes social justice and fairness
Intersectionality is a robust device 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 components equivalent to race, gender, class, sexual orientation, incapacity, and faith.
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Racism and sexism
Black ladies in the US expertise each racism and sexism. They’re extra more likely to be poor, unemployed, and incarcerated than white ladies. They’re additionally extra more likely to expertise violence and sexual assault.
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Classism and ableism
Folks with disabilities are sometimes discriminated towards within the office, in housing, and in schooling. They’re additionally extra more likely to dwell in poverty and to expertise violence.
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Homophobia and transphobia
LGBTQ+ folks usually face discrimination in employment, housing, and healthcare. They’re additionally extra more likely to expertise violence and harassment.
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Spiritual discrimination
Folks of sure non secular teams usually face discrimination in employment, housing, and schooling. 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 will not be separate and distinct, however moderately that they overlap and intersect in complicated methods. Because of this individuals who expertise a number of types of oppression expertise a singular and compounded type of discrimination that’s better than the sum of its components.
For instance, a Black girl who can also be working class and LGBTQ+ might expertise discrimination in numerous 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 also be an individual of shade. This individual 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 crucial for creating efficient methods to deal with social injustice and to create a extra simply and equitable world for all.
Listed here are some particular examples of how completely different types of oppression can overlap and intersect:
- A Black girl who can also 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 he or she could also be much less more likely to be promoted.
- A homosexual man who can also be an individual of shade might expertise discrimination in housing due to his sexual orientation and his race. He could also be denied housing or charged increased lease.
- A lady with a incapacity who can also be an individual of shade 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 various ways in which completely different types of oppression can overlap and intersect. Intersectionality teaches us that these types of oppression will not be separate and distinct, however moderately that they’re interconnected and that they work collectively to create distinctive experiences of discrimination and marginalization.
