‘I’ Is for Intersectionality

Building an environment of inclusion requires another word beginning with ‘i:’ intersectionality.

No one is just one thing. We all have traits, tendencies, expressions of identity that make us who we are, allowing us to use our traits of identity to express ourselves and present it to the world at large. Some of us are women, some of us are LGBTQIA+, some of us are men, some of us are Asian or Indigenous American. Some of us are Black women who are neurodistinct, with a secondary degree who grew up in the suburbs of St. Louis.

While the last description may be on the nose for me, it does not fully incorporate others. It leads me to my identity and mine alone. And yours leads to who you are. It is the intersections of group membership that compose who we are individually.

Defining Intersectionality
Intersectionality is a term rooted in Black feminist activism and critical race theory. Now, before you freak out—let’s acknowledge that CRT is a framework from which to interpret and understand the legal implications of both misogyny and racism. It is the paradigm-shifting perspective that acknowledges how interlocking systems of oppression shape the experiences of individuals and groups. An exploration of the term “intersectionality” requires an examination of pivotal moments in history whereby we highlight the emergence of the term and its evolution into a crucial framework for understanding and addressing social justice issues.

The Combahee River Collective: Pioneers Of Intersectionality

In 1974, the Combahee River Collective, founded by three Black, queer women, boldly confronted the erasure of Black women from both feminist and anti-racist movements. Their 1977 statement marked a turning point, introducing the concept of intersectionality as a means for Black women to define themselves and their relationships to all other groups. This collective laid the foundation for a more inclusive and nuanced understanding of social justice.

Kimberlé Crenshaw’s Crucial Contribution

The term "intersectionality" was officially coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989. A legal scholar, Crenshaw highlighted the oversight of Black women’s experiences in prevailing anti-racist and feminist discourses. In her essay, “Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex,” she challenged existing frameworks that treated race and gender as isolated categories. Crenshaw’s work propelled intersectionality into mainstream discourse, sparking a change in basic assumptions in how we approach social justice. Watch Crenshaw’s 2016 Ted Talk to learn more.

The Evolution Of Intersectionality

The 1990s and 2000s witnessed the widespread recognition of intersectionality as a critical concept for understanding and addressing social inequality. Scholars and activists across disciplines began applying this framework to analyze issues beyond race and gender, including class, sexuality and immigration status. Intersectionality evolved into a dynamic lens through which to examine the intricate layers of oppression that individuals with multiple marginalized identities face.

Intersectionality Today: A Vital Framework For Organizational Justice

Today, intersectionality stands as a widely embraced framework for comprehending and tackling issues of injustice and the ways organizations can enact cultural change. Its key takeaways illuminate its significance:

  1. Roots In Black Feminist Activism And Critical Race Theory: Intersectionality emerged from the rich soil of Black feminist activism and critical race theory, acknowledging the interconnected nature of oppression.
  2. Challenging Traditional Approaches: This concept challenges traditional approaches to social justice, urging us to move beyond single identity-focused frameworks.
  3. Unique Forms Of Oppression: Individuals with multiple marginalized identities face unique forms of oppression, and intersectionality provides a lens to understand these complexities.
  4. Dynamic And Evolving Framework: Intersectionality is not static; it continually evolves and adapts to address a broad spectrum of social justice issues.

Knowing that we all have spaces where identity can intersect, tell me, how do you see yourself in terms of intersectional identity?

Photo by Adeolu Eletu on Unsplash