What is #Intersectionality?

Intersectionality is defined as a framework for conceptualizing an individual or a group of certain people, or it can be a social problem as affected by a number of discriminations and disadvantages.

Intersectionality is a term first highlighted by scholar Kimberle Crenshaw and is basically the idea that all forms of oppressions are linked. Before this lesson, I understand that everyone experience oppression differently based on their social identities but I have really never imagined how we fail to notice the level of complexity of prejudices some people face especially African American female. I personally believe that intersectionality can be better understood as a way in which we combine the three concepts race, class, and gender together in order to get a full understand of privilege and oppression.

When using an intersectional approach to understand who we are in an unequal social system, we can better understand and think back to our previous lesson in religious studies. Just like how race, gender, class, identity and power all relates in the study of religion, it is the same with intersectionality. Intersectionality and identity in my opinion have a unique relation. The way I would try to explain intersectionality in my own words is to start off with your identity and what you’re viewed as by society. For instance, in our society African American women experience both sexism and racism in multifaceted ways. According to Kimberle Crenshaw: What is Intersectionality? video, “African American girls are six times more likely to be suspended than White girls so it’s not just a race problem and its not just a gender problem.” It may start off with the categories of race and gender, however, it’s about the commitment to connect and expand the categories by factoring in issues such as class, sexual orientation, age, and color. Scholar Crenshaw was able to help me understand how important to improve intersectional practices in our society because it is vital for enhancing civil rights and social justice movements.

I really enjoyed learning intersectionality in today’s lesson. To take further steps into understanding intersectionality and in other words we are discussing differences and by doing so we are creating a common ground through our varied social identities. While we all have multifaceted identities, we still share similar values and experiences in countless ways. You can’t change the outcome unless without understanding how they come about — acknowledge the differences within our society can bring awareness which can improve our socio-political system.